What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k median).

Salisbury has the most kids (13.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alford	Salisbury
People
Population	433Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA
Kids under 18	5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salisbury and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA	$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average	$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA
	Alford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,913Lowest 35% below MA	$4,604Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Alford 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	—	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Triton
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.