What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Salem
People
Population	5,736Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
	Salem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
	Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH
	Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above NH	29 minLowest 9% above NH
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Brookline School District	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.