Compare towns
Salisbury vs Strafford vs Sutton vs Whiting
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Strafford | Sutton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
1,372 |
9,452Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842 55% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Sutton | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.