What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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	Brookfield
People
Population	1,609Highest	1,486Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.	47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Brookfield 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%	18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brookfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookfield 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.	$98,500±$23kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.	$339,300±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
	Salisbury and Brookfield 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.	$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.	$4,560Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	30.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookfield and Salisbury 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%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.