Compare towns
Webster vs Sidney 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Sidney | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
4,790Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 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%±8 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Webster 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% |
18.4%±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% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Salisbury 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. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% 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 |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Sidney 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 18 | 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 |
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.