Compare towns
Salisbury vs Worcester vs Andover
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 46).
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 | Worcester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
831Lowest |
2,135Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Worcester 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Andover 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Andover 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$88,514±$27k 10% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Salisbury 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.