Compare towns
Webster vs Middleton 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).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
9,816Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleton 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. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middleton 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. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,859Lowest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Middleton 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%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. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Middleton | 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.