Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hardwick vs Ware 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).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hardwick 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% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% 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. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Ware 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Quabbin | Ware | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
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.