Compare towns
Atkinson vs Lancaster 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 highest household income ($146k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
3,216Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Atkinson 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 NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest 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±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| 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 38% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 24% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.