Compare towns
Atkinson vs Salem vs South Hooksett
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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
30,964Highest |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hooksett 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%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Atkinson and South Hooksett 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 |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Salem and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | 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.