Compare towns
Atkinson vs Pittsfield 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).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Pittsfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
4,105Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Pittsfield 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% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Pittsfield 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 |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% 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 |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than 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%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest 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 | #93 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Pittsfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School | 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.