Compare towns
Atkinson vs Augusta 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).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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.
| Measure | Atkinson | Augusta | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
19,077 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Salem 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% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Augusta 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% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% 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. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Augusta 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% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.