Compare towns

Atkinson vs Petersham vs Hampstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Petersham has the most affordable homes ($392k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAtkinsonPetershamHampstead
People
Population
7,267
1,185Lowest
9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
56.3±2.7
45% above U.S.
45.3±6.1Lowest
16% above U.S.
Atkinson and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
12.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.4%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Petersham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$110,750±$20kLowest
37% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
$392,400±$20kLowest
18% above U.S.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,679±$441Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
Petersham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918
122% above U.S.
$4,636Lowest
49% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
7% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 120 in NH — #49 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Petersham Hampstead School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.