What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	4,224Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.2±9.9Highest 14% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,256±$26kLowest 54% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,846±$736Lowest 31% above U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,125Lowest 64% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	28%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster 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	#19 of 149 in CT	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Salisbury School District	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.