Compare towns

Webster vs Durham 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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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.

MeasureWebsterDurhamSalisbury
People
Population
2,227
4,262Highest
1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±7.6
15% above U.S.
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% 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%
19.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham 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±$14k
33% above U.S.
$99,181±$5kLowest
23% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
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
about the U.S. average
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
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
about the U.S. average
—
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$5,859
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.6%±71Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster and Durham 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%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
17.1%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Durham 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 — #14 of 133 in ME —
School district Merrimack Valley School District RSU 05 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.