Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Worcester 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).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Atkinson 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 | — | — | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.