Compare towns
Stoddard vs Strafford vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Stoddard | Strafford | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
1,372 |
1,609Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Strafford School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.