Compare towns
Atkinson vs Plaistow vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Atkinson | Plaistow | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
7,861 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Somersworth 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 48% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.