What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).

Salisbury has the most people working from home (28%).

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	Rowley	Salisbury
People
Population	6,251Highest	4,224Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S.	44.2±9.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Rowley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rowley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rowley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S.	$124,256±$26kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Rowley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$667,300±$52kLowest 101% above U.S.	$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,603±$520Lowest 13% above U.S.	$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.	$5,125Lowest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rowley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 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	11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#214 of 282 in MA	#19 of 149 in CT
School district	Triton	Salisbury School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.