What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).

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	Halifax
People
Population	7,267Highest	847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Halifax 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%	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Halifax 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.	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S.	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Highest 122% above U.S.	$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Halifax 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%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax 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	#32 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Halifax School District
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.