Compare towns
Webster vs Bath vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Bath | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
1,097Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Webster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,438±$309 4% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$4,413Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Bath School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.