Compare towns
Sandown vs Atkinson vs Northwood
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 the most people working from home (27.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Sandown | Atkinson | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628 |
7,267Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Northwood 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Northwood 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 |
$129,375±$23kLowest 31% 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 |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Sandown and Northwood 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 |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest 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 | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.