Compare towns
Atkinson vs Salem vs Sidney
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).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
30,964Highest |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% 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. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sidney 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.