What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salisbury	West Brookfield
People
Population	9,281Highest	3,859Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA	58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Salisbury and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	34%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA	$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA
	West Brookfield 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	$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA	$1,236±$271Lowest 30% below MA
	Salisbury and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Highest 23% below MA	$4,260Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%	30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	42 minHighest 44% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±15Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury and West Brookfield 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	#162 of 282 in MA
School district	Triton	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.