Compare towns

Salisbury vs Springfield vs Temple

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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Temple has the youngest population (median age 49.5).

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.

MeasureSalisburySpringfieldTemple
People
Population
9,281Highest
1,122Lowest
1,363
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.3±3.5
32% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Lowest
27% above U.S.
Springfield 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
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Springfield and Temple 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%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,361±$6kLowest
16% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$94,107±$15k
17% above U.S.
Springfield and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$478,700±$27kHighest
44% above U.S.
$384,100±$50kLowest
15% above U.S.
$401,000±$27k
21% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,691±$411Highest
20% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,169±$523
17% below U.S.
Salisbury and Temple 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.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$6,983Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±11.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.2%±54.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Salisbury and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Temple 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 — —
School district Triton — Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.