Compare towns
Atkinson vs Appleton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Atkinson | Appleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
1,360Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Appleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Timberlane Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | 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 |
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.