Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Salisbury vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Bridgewater | Salisbury | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Washington 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 | Newfound Area School District | Triton | Washington 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 |
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.