Compare towns
Salisbury vs Townsend 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,200 |
9,100Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Salisbury 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,204±$519Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Salisbury 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Whiting 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.