Compare towns

Douglas vs Salisbury vs Thompson

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

MeasureDouglasSalisburyThompson
People
Population
9,207
4,224Lowest
9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.2±9.9
14% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Thompson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$124,256±$26k
54% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
Douglas and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$763,700±$121kHighest
130% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,846±$736Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Salisbury and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$5,125
64% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
23.2%±11.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #19 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Douglas Salisbury School District Thompson School District
High school in town Douglas High School None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
—
7.9Highest
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.