Compare towns
Salisbury vs Thornton vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Thornton | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Highest |
2,799Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hatfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Salisbury 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.