Compare towns
Salisbury vs Ashby vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
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 | Ashby | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
3,211Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Lowest 88% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.