What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).

Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k 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	Union	Atkinson
People
Population	2,663Lowest	7,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S.	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average	$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S.	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Union and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S.	$6,918Highest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Atkinson and Union 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	RSU 40/MSAD 40	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.