Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bow 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
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Bow | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,335 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Bow and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.