What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k 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.

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

Measure	Atkinson	Andover
People
Population	7,267Highest	2,135Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH	46±11.6Lowest 6% above NH
	Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2%	13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Andover and Atkinson 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 NH: 40.6%	29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Andover 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 48% above NH	$88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH
	Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH	$366,500±$44kLowest 9% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH	$1,211±$190Highest 19% below NH
	Andover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Highest 4% above NH	$5,962Lowest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%	45.1%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above NH	34 minHighest 28% above NH
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Atkinson and Andover 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	—
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Andover School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.