Compare towns
Hampton vs Atkinson vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Hampton | Atkinson | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
7,267 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Lowest 29% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Atkinson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Atkinson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Atkinson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.