What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

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	Waltham
People
Population	1,609Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham 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%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham 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.	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Waltham 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.	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average
	Salisbury and Waltham 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.	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Waltham 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

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.