Compare towns

Calais vs Salisbury vs Barnard

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureCalaisSalisburyBarnard
People
Population
1,713Highest
1,609
1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
Salisbury and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$97,581±$19kLowest
21% above U.S.
Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$363,400±$47kLowest
9% above U.S.
$402,600±$71kHighest
21% above U.S.
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,372±$80Lowest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$5,859Lowest
88% above U.S.
$6,038
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Merrimack Valley School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.