What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).

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

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	Bennington	Atkinson
People
Population	1,588Lowest	7,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH	$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH
	Bennington and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Lowest 11% below NH	$6,918Highest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above NH	28 minLowest 6% above NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Atkinson and Bennington 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	Contoocook Valley School District	Timberlane Regional 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.