Compare towns
Hampstead vs Salem vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Hampstead | Salem | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
44,795Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest 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 | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #248 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Salem | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.