Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hooksett vs Salem vs Haverhill
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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Haverhill has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Salem | Haverhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964 |
67,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Haverhill and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Haverhill and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Haverhill 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #243 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School | Haverhill High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.