What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most kids (38.7% under 18).

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

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	Fairfield	Salisbury
People
Population	1,801Lowest	1,933Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	30.4±8.4Lowest 24% below NY	45.7±5.3Highest 15% above NY
Kids under 18	38.7%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	20.4%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Salisbury and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	14.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Fairfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,875±$21kHighest 5% above NY	$81,528±$21kLowest 5% below NY
	Fairfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$16kHighest 59% below NY	$123,500±$48kLowest 71% below NY
	Fairfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$181Highest 32% below NY	$851±$10Lowest 48% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,492Highest 47% below NY	$1,649Lowest 75% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±90Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±41.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Salisbury and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Lowest NY: 14%	18.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 23% below NY	37 minHighest 13% above NY
Work from home	13.7%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.7%±17.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Salisbury and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.