Compare towns
Salem vs Saco 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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
20,819 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above 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. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Salem and Saco 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. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Saco 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Saco Public Schools | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | 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.