Compare towns
Salisbury vs Townsend vs Franklin
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 most people working from home (23.3%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
9,100Highest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Franklin 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. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below 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. |
$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below 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. |
$4,886Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Franklin 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Townsend 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 | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.