What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Mapleton	Salisbury
People
Population	1,884Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S.	51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mapleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S.	$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.	$4,604Highest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Mapleton 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	RSU 79/MSAD 01	Triton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.