Compare towns
Hampstead vs Merrimac vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Merrimac | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,748Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Merrimac 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Merrimac and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Pentucket | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.