Compare towns
Andover vs Atkinson vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Salem has the most kids (16.2% 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.
| Measure | Andover | Atkinson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
7,267 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
| Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salem and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44kLowest 9% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190 19% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.