Compare towns
Atkinson vs Union vs Salem
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).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Union | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
2,663Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 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. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,490±$9k 37% 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. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Union 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. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 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% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 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 |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.