The Town FilesSalisbury, Massachusetts
Community in Essex County · population 5,629 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $465,900
- Household income
- $92,469
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 51.0
Salisbury is a community of 5,629 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $465,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
How Salisbury ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salisbury is worth $465,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $92,469, which is more affordable than 39% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,770 a month. 65.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salisbury | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $465,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,770 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $92,469 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.5% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.2% | — |
Who lives in Salisbury
| People | Salisbury | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Salisbury
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.9 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salisbury since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 21, 2006 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 28, 1965.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 323,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,548 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Salisbury itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Salisbury
- Salisbury, MA1.0 mi · 9,236 people · home $478,700
- Newburyport, MA2.4 mi · 18,289 people · home $834,000
- Seabrook, NH3.7 mi · 8,401 people · home $443,500
- Newbury, MA4.4 mi · 6,716 people · home $840,600
- Hampton Beach, NH6.0 mi · 2,598 people · home $508,900
- West Newbury, MA6.3 mi · 4,500 people · home $808,200
- Hampton, NH7.5 mi · 16,214 people · home $550,200
- Rowley, MA7.8 mi · 6,161 people · home $667,300
Salisbury questions
Is Salisbury, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salisbury scores better for retirees than 70% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 61%. 29.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in Salisbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Salisbury is valued at $465,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,469, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,770 a month.
What is the weather like in Salisbury?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 61.9 inches of snow.
Does Salisbury get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salisbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 21, 2006. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)