What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

Strafford has the most kids (23% 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	Strafford
People
Population	7,267Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Strafford 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 7% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Atkinson and Strafford 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	Strafford 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.