Compare towns
Hampstead vs Sullivan vs Dover 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).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Sullivan | Dover | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±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% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% 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 |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above 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 |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Dover 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.