What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the highest household income ($138k).

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	Newton
People
Population	9,281Highest	4,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S.	47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Newton 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%	17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newton 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%	16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Newton 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.	$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.	$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,683±$96Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Newton 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.	$8,124Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Newton 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	#70 of 120 in NH
School district	Triton	Sanborn Regional 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.