Compare towns
Canterbury vs Salisbury vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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.
| Measure | Canterbury | Salisbury | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
5,656Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Canterbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 33% above U.S. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,770±$444 25% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Canterbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Highest 138% above U.S. |
$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | — | Thornton School District |
| High school 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.