Compare towns
Salisbury vs Ware vs Newburyport
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Ware | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
10,048 |
18,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.8±2.9 25% above MA |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Newburyport and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,592±$221 10% below MA |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,944Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newburyport 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ware | Newburyport |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.