Compare towns
Atkinson vs Mason 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).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
1,451Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Mason and Salem 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 |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Atkinson 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Mason 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Mason 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 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.