What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).

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	Washington
People
Population	5,656Highest	526Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Lowest 28% above MA	56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA
	Washington 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%	13.3%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Washington 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	$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA
	Washington and Salisbury 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	$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444 about the MA average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Highest 24% below MA	$4,381Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Washington 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	92.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury and Washington 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	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.