Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
11,685 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salem and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hanover 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±$65k 38% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.