Compare towns
Atkinson vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Plaistow
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Ogunquit | Salem | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8 47% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Salem 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Salem School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Salem High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.