What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most kids (16.3% under 18).

Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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	Bethlehem	Salisbury
People
Population	3,423Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S.	51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bethlehem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S.	$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S.	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,932Highest 90% above U.S.	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	61.9%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Bethlehem 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	#82 of 149 in CT	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Regional School District 14	Triton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.