Compare towns
Salisbury vs Needham vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Salisbury | Needham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Triton |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.