Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hollis 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).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Hollis | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,603 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Salem 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% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hollis 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% |
57.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| 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±$32k 48% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.