What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).

Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).

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	Halifax	Atkinson
People
Population	847Lowest	7,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.	$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S.	$6,918Highest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax 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
School district	Halifax School District	Timberlane Regional 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.