Compare towns

Atkinson vs Dover vs Ogunquit 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureAtkinsonDoverOgunquitSalem
People
Population
7,267
33,364Highest
1,379Lowest
30,964
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8
47% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.6±2.7
15% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.4%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Atkinson 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.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
Atkinson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$555,200±$65k
67% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$473,300±$16k
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
—
$1,625±$146Highest
15% above U.S.
Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918
122% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,992
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Dover 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
7% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH — #38 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Dover School District — Salem School District
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School — Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
—
11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.