Compare towns
Salisbury vs Salisbury vs Stow
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%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Salisbury | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
9,281Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
| Stow and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Triton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.