Compare towns
Brookline vs Salisbury vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Brookline | Salisbury | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,609Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.