Compare towns
Salisbury vs Durham vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
10,681Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham 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 10% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Salisbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.