Compare towns

Plaistow vs Somersworth vs Hopkinton 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

Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.

MeasurePlaistowSomersworthHopkintonAtkinson
People
Population
7,861
12,111Highest
6,037Lowest
7,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
45±2.8
4% above NH
57.1±2.8Highest
32% above NH
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.8%±4.1
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.9%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
27.4%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Atkinson and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
58.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
7.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 6%
5.8%±4
NH: 6%
Hopkinton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,317±$13k
9% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$137,477±$21k
39% above NH
$146,380±$32kHighest
48% above NH
Atkinson and Hopkinton 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
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$506,900±$54k
26% above NH
$555,200±$65kHighest
38% above NH
Atkinson and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187Highest
12% above NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
$1,270±$129
15% below NH
$1,140±$32Lowest
24% below NH
Plaistow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,194
8% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,918
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
42.4%±6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.5%±39.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Atkinson and Somersworth 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%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.5%
NH: 7.2%
1.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%
NH: 72.8%
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1968
11 yrs older than NH
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
7% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
28 min
6% above NH
Work from home
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.8%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.1%±6.3
NH: 16.8%
Hopkinton 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 #66 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH #32 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Somersworth School District Hopkinton School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Somersworth High School Hopkinton High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
11.4Lowest
12.0Highest
—
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.