What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Winchendon	Salisbury
People
Population	10,440Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Winchendon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Winchendon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,800±$19kLowest about the U.S. average	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$163Lowest 11% below U.S.	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Winchendon	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Murdock High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.