What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).

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	Salisbury	Brookfield
People
Population	5,656Highest	3,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Lowest 28% above MA	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA
	Brookfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Brookfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salisbury and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Salisbury and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA	$5,092Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury and Brookfield 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Brookfield
High school in town	—	None in town
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.