Compare towns
Salem vs Lawrence 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
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
88,736Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Lawrence 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 37% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% 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 | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Lawrence | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.