Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Hampton Beach | Ogunquit | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
2,605 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% 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. |
60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Atkinson 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% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%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% |
62.9%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. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
25 minLowest 4% 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% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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 | — | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | — | Salem School District |
| High school 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 | 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.