Compare towns
Atkinson vs Wayne vs Alton
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).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Wayne | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
1,101Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Atkinson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Atkinson 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Atkinson 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. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Alton 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. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— |
| Atkinson and Wayne 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Alton 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 38 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.