Compare towns
Salisbury vs Athol 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 the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Athol | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
12,011Highest |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
51±6.9 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 | 13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest 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+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest 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 | $93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Highest 23% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.