What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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	Stark
People
Population	7,267Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57.1±2.8Lowest 32% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
	Stark and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Atkinson and Stark 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%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Stark 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	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32 24% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Highest 4% above NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Atkinson 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Atkinson and Stark 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	Stark 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.