Compare towns
Webster vs Ashburnham 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
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Webster | Ashburnham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
6,415Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,859Lowest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #178 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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.