Compare towns
Salisbury vs Middlesex vs Newburyport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Middlesex | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
1,943Lowest |
18,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.8±2.9 28% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Newburyport 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 16% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$139,625±$21kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Newburyport and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$834,000±$37kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,592±$221 13% above U.S. |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,944Highest 155% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±9.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newburyport and Middlesex 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 | — | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Newburyport |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.