Compare towns
Atkinson vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Castleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
4,453Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 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 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.