Compare towns
Madison vs Salisbury vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Madison | Salisbury | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
9,281Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Lowest 29% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Madison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% 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 | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Freedom 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Triton | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.