What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratford has the most expensive homes ($157k median).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.5%).

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	Stratford	Salisbury
People
Population	769Lowest	1,933Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.2±6.8Highest 34% above NY	45.7±5.3Lowest 15% above NY
	Stratford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.4%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Salisbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±7.8Highest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Stratford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16%Highest NY: 40.2%	14.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Salisbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,518±$22kLowest 23% below NY	$81,528±$21kHighest 5% below NY
	Salisbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,600±$45kHighest 63% below NY	$123,500±$48kLowest 71% below NY
	Stratford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$813±$389Lowest 50% below NY	$851±$10Highest 48% below NY
	Salisbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Highest 62% below NY	$1,649Lowest 75% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.5%±65.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±41.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Salisbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest NY: 14%	18.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 20% above NY	37 minLowest 13% above NY
Work from home	15.1%±7.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.7%±17.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Salisbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.