What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the most renters (28.8% rent).

Chester has the highest household income ($142k).

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	Chester
People
Population	9,281Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S.	47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S.	$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kLowest 44% above U.S.	$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411 20% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.	$8,464Highest 171% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Chester 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	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Triton	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.