Compare towns
Salisbury vs Westford vs Springfield
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%).
Westford has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Westford | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
2,290Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Westford 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±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Westford and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632 36% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Westford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Lowest 88% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westford and Springfield 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.