Compare towns
Concord vs Pembroke vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Concord | Pembroke | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
7,438Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Concord and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Salem and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 8% above NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Pembroke School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Pembroke Academy | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.