Compare towns
Pelham 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
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Pelham | Brookline | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
5,736Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Pelham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% 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 | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Brookline School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.