Compare towns
Plaistow vs Dorchester 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
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Plaistow | Dorchester | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
410Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
56±10.5 29% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Atkinson and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
— | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
— | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.