Compare towns
Atkinson vs Salem vs Upton
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
30,964Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Upton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Atkinson 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.