Compare towns
Pembroke vs Keene 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
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Pembroke | Keene | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
22,939 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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 | 24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest 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+ | 32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Keene School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Keene High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.3 |
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.