What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lebanon has the most kids (24.1% 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	Lebanon
People
Population	7,267Highest	6,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.	39.6±5.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon and Atkinson 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.	$97,750±$11kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.	$324,800±$23kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Highest 122% above U.S.	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	35.7%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Lebanon 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%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Atkinson and Lebanon 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	#87 of 133 in ME
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	RSU 60/MSAD 60
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.