What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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	Monroe
People
Population	7,267Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH
	Atkinson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Atkinson 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%	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe 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%	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Monroe 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	$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH	$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Highest 24% below NH	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH
	Atkinson and Monroe 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	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Monroe 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%	5.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Monroe School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.