Compare towns
Hampstead vs Keene vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Hampstead | Keene | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
22,939Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Keene and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.