What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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	Rye
People
Population	7,267Highest	5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH	55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH
	Atkinson and Rye 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%	18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rye 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%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rye 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Rye 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	$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH
	Atkinson and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kLowest 38% above NH	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Lowest 4% above NH	$7,519Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Rye 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%	6.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above NH	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Rye 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.