Compare towns

Windham vs Salisbury vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWindhamSalisburyBrookline
People
Population
594
1,609Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Salisbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Lowest
23% above U.S.
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,859
88% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Merrimack Valley School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.