Compare towns
Atkinson vs Sidney vs Plaistow
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%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% 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 | Sidney | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
4,790Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Sidney 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 18 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.