Compare towns
Sandown vs Atkinson vs Derry vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Sandown | Atkinson | Derry | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
7,267 |
34,116Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% 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 | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.