What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whately has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

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	Whately
People
Population	9,281Highest	1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA	49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA
	Salisbury and Whately 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%	16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Whately and Salisbury 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%	24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salisbury and Whately 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%	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA	$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Lowest 23% below MA	$5,027Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Whately 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	—
School district	Triton	Whately
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.