Compare towns

Salisbury vs Deerfield vs Newburyport

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k 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.

MeasureSalisburyDeerfieldNewburyport
People
Population
9,281
5,158Lowest
18,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51.3±3.5
28% above MA
51.8±3.6Highest
30% above MA
49.8±2.9Lowest
25% above MA
Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
13.2%±3.7
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Newburyport and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.9%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.4%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
Salisbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
44.4%
MA: 47.3%
67%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
7.9%±3.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Deerfield 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±$6kLowest
10% below MA
$106,136±$14k
about the MA average
$139,625±$21kHighest
34% above MA
Newburyport and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$478,700±$27k
15% below MA
$414,900±$37kLowest
26% below MA
$834,000±$37kHighest
48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,691±$411Highest
4% below MA
$1,334±$318Lowest
24% below MA
$1,592±$221
10% below MA
Salisbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,604Lowest
23% below MA
$5,824
about the MA average
$7,944Highest
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±11.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.1%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.4%±9.7
MA: 51.8%
Salisbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.8%Highest
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
78.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
77.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% below MA
18 minLowest
40% below MA
32 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±5.8
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±6.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.9%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Newburyport 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 #156 of 282 in MA #56 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Deerfield · Frontier Newburyport
High school in town None in town Frontier Regional Newburyport High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.