Compare towns

Dummer vs Salisbury vs Columbia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureDummerSalisburyColumbia
People
Population
299Lowest
1,609Highest
683
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-12.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
53.6±6.4Highest
24% above NH
51.5±4.5Lowest
19% above NH
51.8±10.1
20% above NH
Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1
NH: 18.2%
20.1%±9.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Salisbury and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.9%±4
NH: 20.1%
29.9%±8.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
Columbia and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%
NH: 40.6%
37.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
14.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±5.7Lowest
NH: 6%
2%±1.1
NH: 6%
7%±3.7Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$21k
8% below NH
$111,591±$17kHighest
13% above NH
$57,917±$13kLowest
42% below NH
Salisbury and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,200±$51k
40% below NH
$363,400±$47kHighest
10% below NH
$196,400±$29kLowest
51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,917±$632Highest
29% above NH
$792±$333Lowest
47% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,898
57% below NH
$5,859Highest
12% below NH
$2,009Lowest
70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
9.1%±95.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
Columbia and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
NH: 7.2%
7.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%
NH: 72.8%
96.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below NH
32 minHighest
20% above NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
Work from home
6.8%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.3%±10.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.2%±6.7
NH: 16.8%
Salisbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Merrimack Valley School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

NH 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.