Compare towns
Salem vs Everett vs Andover 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 affordable homes ($473k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Everett | Andover | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
50,045Highest |
36,652 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Andover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Andover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Everett | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Everett High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.