What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Salisbury
People
Population	1,372Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Lowest 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+	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kLowest 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	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$363,400±$47kLowest 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	$1,125±$789Lowest 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	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$5,859Lowest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest 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	Strafford School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.