What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Salisbury
People
Population	2,872Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA
	Salisbury and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9%	25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA
	Northfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA	$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA
	Salisbury and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA	$4,604Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Triton
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.