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Atkinson, NH


atkinson New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Atkinson Planning Board
Sue Coppeta, Planning Assistant
21 Academy Avenue
Atkinson, NH 03811
Telephone (603) 362-5761
Fax (603) 362-5305
E-mail landuse@atkinson-nh.gov
Web Site www.town-atkinsonnh.com

Municipal Office Hours Town Administrator: Monday to Thursday, 8-4, Friday, 8-12; Town Clerk: Monday, 8:30-7, Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30-5, Friday, 8-12; Tax Collector: Jan-May, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 5-8, Wedneday, 9-1 and 5-8, Friday, 9-3; Jun-Dec, Monday, 5-8, Tuesday-Thursday, 9-3

County Rockingham
Labor Market Area Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury Town, MA-NH NECTA Division
Tourism Region Seacoast
Planning Commission Rockingham
Regional Development Regional Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 2
Executive Council District District 3
State Senate District District 22
State Representative Rockingham County District 18

Incorporated: 1767
Origin: Atkinson was named in 1767 for Colonel Theodore Atkinson, whose farm once covered nearly all of the several hundred acres set aside from Plaistow that became the town. Colonel Atkinson was brother-in-law to Governor Benning Wentworth, served as secretary of the colony until the Revolution, and was one of the Masonian Proprietors who parceled out New Hampshire lands to over 30,000 settlers. Colonel Atkinson bequested funds to establish Atkinson Academy, incorporated in 1787. In 1809, the state granted 13,000 acres of land in Coos County to the Academy, an unincorporated place known as Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant.
Villages and Place Names: Atkinson Heights, Conleys Grove, Westville, Atkinson Depot
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 479 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Atkinson totaled 4,801 over 50 years, from 2,291 in 1970 to 7,092 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Atkinson was 7,321 residents, which ranked 47th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 654.8 persons per square mile of land area. Atkinson contains 11.2 square miles of land area and 0.2 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2021 $6,735,731
Budget: School Appropriations, 2020-2021 $15,455,908
Zoning Ordinance 1940/12
Master Plan 2015
Capitol Improvement Plan No
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Library; Cemetery; Budget
Appointed:Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Recreation
Public Library Kimball

Emergency Services
Police Department Full & part-time
Fire Department Full, part-time, volunteer
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Parkland Medical Center, Derry 11 miles 50

Utilities
Electric Supplier Unitil; Eversource Energy
Natural Gas Supplier Unitil
Water Supplier Hampstead Water Company & private wells
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupMunicipal
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramVoluntary
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $12.27
2022 Equalization Ratio 87.8
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $10.71
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings94.3%
Commercial Land and Buildings4.5%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other1.2%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 2,966
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 2,538
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 362
Five or More Units in Structure 66
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 0
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 7,321 319,424
2020 7,087 314,176
2010 6,751 295,223
2000 6,230 278,748
1990 5,141 246,744
1980 4,397 190,345
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   3,749 Female:   3,337
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 279
Age 5 to 19 1,025
Age 20 to 34 1,073
Age 35 to 54 1,628
Age 55 to 64 1,541
Age 65 and over 1,540
Median Age 52.4 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 5,308
High school graduate or higher 96.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher 40.6%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $58,084
Median family income $135,729
Median household income $123,257
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $99,301
Female $68,668
Individuals below the poverty level 2.0%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 3,772 4,124
Employed 3,556 4,004
Unemployed 216 120
Unemployment Rate 5.7% 2.9%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 404 350
Average Weekly Wage $994 $1,404
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 641 844
Average Weekly Wage $800 $1,077
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 1,046 1,194
Average Weekly Wage $875 $1,172
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 66 68
Average Weekly Wage $591 $889
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 1,112 1,263
Average Weekly Wage $858 $1,157

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Timberlane Regional (Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow, Sandown) SAU 55
Career Technology Center(s): Pinkerton Academy Center for CTE
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1
Grade Levels P K 1-5
Total Enrollment 354
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 1 Total Capacity: 99
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Rivier; Northern Essex Community (MA); Merrimack (MA); UMass Lowell (MA)

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Lewis Builders, Inc. Builder 94 1953
Busby Construction Contractor 70 1979
GEX Graphics, printing 80 1990
Palmer Gas Company Propane gas 109 1969
Atkinson Concessions Country club 227 2002

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 111, 121
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-495 (MA), Exit 51
Distance 4 miles
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Lawrence (MA) MunicipalRunway5,000 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 27 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 29 miles
Portland, ME 84 miles
Boston, MA 40 miles
New York City, NY 239 miles
Montreal, Quebec 283 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 3,996
Drove alone, car/truck/van 82.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 4.1%
Public transportation 1.2%
Walked 0.0%
Other Means 0.0%
Worked at home 11.9%
Mean Travel Time to Work 30.1 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 22.6%
Commuting to another NH community 34.7%
Commuting out-of-state 42.7%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
Snowmobile Trails
Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Bradford (MA)
   
Other: NH Cultural & Scenic By-Way

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 8/3/22

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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