Compare towns
Salem vs Dover 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
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Salem | Dover | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
2,308Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | None in town |
| 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.