Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Nelson | Salisbury | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,281Highest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Salisbury 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 | Nelson School District | Triton | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.