Compare towns
Hampstead vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($521k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Hampstead | Needham | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
32,459Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Needham | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.