Compare towns

Salisbury vs Calais 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 highest household income ($112k).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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.

MeasureSalisburyCalaisSpringfield
People
Population
1,609
1,713Highest
1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% 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%±9.6
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Salisbury 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%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Calais 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%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
$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±$47kLowest
9% above U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
Calais 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.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
Salisbury and Calais 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.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above U.S.
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
23.3%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.