Compare towns
Newton vs Kensington 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
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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.
| Measure | Newton | Kensington | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
2,009Lowest |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 160% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Kensington 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Kensington School District | Triton |
| 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.