What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Townshend
People
Population	1,609Highest	1,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend and Salisbury 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%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Townshend 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%	19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury and Townshend 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.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
	Salisbury and Townshend 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.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Townshend 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.	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend and Salisbury 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%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 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%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
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.