Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Ware vs Salisbury vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 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.
| Measure | Fitzwilliam | Ware | Salisbury | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,278 |
10,048Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34k 8% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Madison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173 66% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Ware | Merrimack Valley School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 7 photos → |
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.