What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorchester has the most people working from home (12.2%).

Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($307k median).

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	Dorchester	Salisbury
People
Population	410Lowest	1,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S.	50.6±6.5Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Dorchester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorchester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S.	$306,900±$51kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S.	$4,842Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	31.9%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 52% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dorchester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school 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.