Compare towns
Deerfield vs Middlesex vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Deerfield | Middlesex | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
1,943Lowest |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Triton |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.