Compare towns
Newton vs Salisbury vs Strafford
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 highest household income ($138k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Newton | Salisbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
5,656Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Newton 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.