Compare towns
Salisbury vs Stow 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).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Stow | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
7,165 |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Stow 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 |
$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% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Nashoba | — |
| 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.