Compare towns
Atkinson vs Epping vs Mapleton 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Epping | Mapleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
7,430 |
1,884Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Epping and Salem 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.