Compare towns
Salisbury vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
32,459Highest |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$6k 10% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.