Compare towns
Salem vs Hampton vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Salem | Hampton | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
10,101 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salem and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Hampton 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.