Compare towns
Salisbury vs Benson vs Franklin
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 highest household income ($112k).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% 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 | Benson | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
784Lowest |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Benson and Salisbury 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Franklin 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Benson 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 | — | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 16.2 |
| 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.