Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Winchendon vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Winchendon | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278 |
10,440Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam 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% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,255±$163Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Winchendon 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. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Winchendon 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Winchendon | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Murdock High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.