What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).

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	Worcester	Salisbury
People
Population	831Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Worcester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.