What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Wayne	Salisbury
People
Population	1,101Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Wayne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wayne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S.	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wayne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%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	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wayne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	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.