Compare towns
Atkinson vs Plaistow 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 highest household income ($146k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Plaistow | Salem | Haverhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
7,861 |
30,964 |
67,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Haverhill and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Haverhill 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. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 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. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Haverhill and Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
4.5% 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% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older 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. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #243 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Salem High School | Haverhill High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
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.