What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Atkinson	Acton
People
Population	7,267Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Atkinson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Highest 122% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Atkinson and Acton 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	#32 of 120 in NH	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.