What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Whately	Salisbury
People
Population	1,499Lowest	9,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Whately and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA	$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA	$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,027Highest 16% below MA	$4,604Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Salisbury 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	—	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Whately	Triton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.