Compare towns
Webster vs Reading 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 youngest population (median age 44.7).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Reading | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
699Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.