What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salisbury	Sheldon
People
Population	1,609Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon 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%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Salisbury and Sheldon 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.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Sheldon 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.	$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100 U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.