Compare towns
Haverhill vs Atkinson vs West Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
West Newbury has the most expensive homes ($808k 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 | Haverhill | Atkinson | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 67,698Highest |
7,267 |
4,591Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.5±3 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Haverhill and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| West Newbury and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $453,900±$9kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,668±$49 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,675±$674Highest 19% above U.S. |
| West Newbury and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$9,240Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Newbury and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Newbury 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Haverhill High | None in town | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.