What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).

Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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	Ashby
People
Population	7,267Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.	50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Atkinson 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%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Ashby 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.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S.
	Ashby and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Highest 122% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Ashby 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%	2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Atkinson and Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.