Compare towns
Atkinson vs Salem vs Exeter
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).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Salem | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
30,964Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Atkinson 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 |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% 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 |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Exeter 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% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.