Compare towns
Atkinson vs Rochester vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.
| Measure | Atkinson | Rochester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
33,144Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Townsend 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. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Townsend 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. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Townsend 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Rochester School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.