What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).

Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k 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.

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

Measure	Oxford	Salisbury
People
Population	13,385Highest	4,224Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S.	44.2±9.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Oxford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Oxford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S.	$124,256±$26kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S.	$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,622Lowest 48% above U.S.	$5,125Highest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 7% above U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Oxford 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	#245 of 282 in MA	#19 of 149 in CT
School district	Oxford	Salisbury School District
High school in town	Oxford High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.