Compare towns
Atkinson vs Sturbridge 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 expensive homes ($555k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Sturbridge | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
9,960Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.