Compare towns

Salisbury vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.

MeasureSalisburyPlainfieldSpringfield
People
Population
1,609Highest
1,314
1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% 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%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Plainfield 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%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below 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±$47k
9% above U.S.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% 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.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,859
88% above U.S.
$4,806Lowest
54% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield 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%
11.6%Highest
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.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Merrimack Valley School District — —
High school 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.