What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($343k 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	Grafton
People
Population	9,281Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S.	59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grafton 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 16% above U.S.	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.	$343,200±$85kLowest 3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,288±$174Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.	$4,843Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±69.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Grafton 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%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Grafton 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	—
School district	Triton	Athens Grafton School District
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.