Compare towns
Salisbury vs Townsend vs Fitzwilliam
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k 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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Townsend | Fitzwilliam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,278 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Salisbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,173Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.