Compare towns
Atkinson vs Rochester vs Windham
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 the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
33,144Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Windham 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Atkinson 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Rochester School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.