Compare towns
Salisbury vs Westminster vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Westminster | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
2,999Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Westminster 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 16% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Amesbury 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 44% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.