Compare towns
Webster vs Brookline vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Webster | Brookline | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
5,736Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,917±$632 29% above NH |
| Brookline and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 14% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Salisbury 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Brookline School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.