Compare towns

Brookline vs Salisbury vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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.

MeasureBrooklineSalisburySutton
People
Population
5,736Highest
1,609Lowest
2,239
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
51.5±4.5Highest
19% above NH
48.1±4.1
11% above NH
Salisbury and Sutton 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%
20.1%±9.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.5%±3.8
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.9%±4Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.6%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
Salisbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.3%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
2%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±3.6
NH: 6%
Brookline and Sutton 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
$111,591±$17kLowest
13% above NH
$130,313±$31k
32% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38kHighest
35% above NH
$363,400±$47k
10% below NH
$362,600±$16kLowest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$1,917±$632
29% above NH
$1,656±$614Lowest
11% above NH
Brookline and Salisbury 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
$5,859Lowest
12% below NH
$7,652
15% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±47.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Sutton 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%
7.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
95.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above NH
32 min
20% above NH
29 minLowest
10% above NH
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
23.3%±10.6
NH: 16.8%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Brookline and Salisbury 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 — —
School district Brookline School District Merrimack Valley School District Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.4
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.