Compare towns
Strafford vs Salisbury vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Strafford | Salisbury | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,609Highest |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Lowest 17% 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%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Vershire 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below 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±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below 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±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,117±$80Lowest 21% below 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. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
$4,640Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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 | 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.