Compare towns
Salisbury vs Salem vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Salem | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
44,795Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Salem and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Deerfield 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 |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield 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±$27k 15% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Salem | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.