What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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	Wakefield
People
Population	7,267Highest	5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH	49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield 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 NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Atkinson and Wakefield 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%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Wakefield 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	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH	$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH
	Wakefield and Atkinson 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	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Wakefield 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%	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 1 yr newer than NH	1980 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Atkinson and Wakefield 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	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Wakefield 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.