Compare towns
Newton vs Salisbury vs Chester
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).
Salisbury has the most renters (28.8% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
9,281Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester 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. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% 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 | $8,124 160% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Triton | Chester 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.