Compare towns
Washington vs Plainfield 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
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Washington | Plainfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,314 |
1,609Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington 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.