Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs Brookline 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Derry | Keene | Brookline | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
22,939 |
5,736Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.2±1.5 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 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,625±$146 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 | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | Brookline School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.