Compare towns
Salisbury vs Benson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Benson | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Highest |
784Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Benson 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Salisbury 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. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.