Compare towns
Salisbury vs Plainville 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Plainville has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Salisbury has the most renters (34.5% rent).
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 | Plainville | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
9,943Highest |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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 |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
| Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
| Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$5,329Highest 11% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Plainville | — |
| High school in town | None 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.

