City · 5,656 residents · Essex County, Massachusetts
Salisbury, Massachusetts
In Salisbury, a typical home is worth $465,900 and typical rent is $1,770 a month. Compared with all of Essex County, the typical home value is 25% lower and typical household income is 9% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $500,019 to $627,018.
Typical rent
$2,392a month
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Salisbury is in Essex County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Essex County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Gloucester, the typical rent is $1,411: 20% less than in Salisbury ($1,770).
2
The typical home in Salisbury is worth $465,900,25% less than in Essex County as a whole ($619,100).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Salisbury
What homes there are in Salisbury, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
United States
Kind of home: Salisbury and its comparisons
Measure
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
United States
Detached house
41%
50%
51%
61%
Attached house
12%
7%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
26%
22%
20%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
19%
21%
22%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
No kind of home is the majority in Salisbury; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 41%, less than in Essex County (50%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
United States
Year built: Salisbury and its comparisons
Measure
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
United States
Before 1960
37%
50%
47%
26%
1960–1979
12%
20%
21%
24%
1980–1999
17%
18%
18%
25%
2000–2009
20%
7%
7%
14%
2010 or later
14%
6%
7%
11%
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K42%
$500K–$750K28%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Salisbury and its comparisons
Measure
Salisbury
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
42%
$500K–$750K
28%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99920%
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99915%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,99930%
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Salisbury and its comparisons
Measure
Salisbury
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
20%
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
15%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
30%
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,528 a month
Essex County: $2,867 a month
Without a mortgage
$988 a month
Essex County: $1,106 a month
Owners with a mortgage
76%
Essex County: 70%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Salisbury is $2,528 a month, less than in Essex County ($2,867); without one, $988.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Salisbury+30%
Essex County+51%
Massachusetts+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
SalisburyNo clear change
Essex County+42%
Massachusetts+37%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Salisbury+17%
Essex County+29%
Massachusetts+28%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Salisbury and its comparisons
Measure
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
United States
Typical home value
+30%
+51%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+42%
+37%
+33%
Typical household income
+17%
+29%
+28%
+29%
The typical home value in Salisbury rose 30% since 2015–2019, less than in Essex County (51%).
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Salisbury did not change clearly, according to the Census.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Salisbury and its comparisons
Measure
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.6%
3.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.3%
0.6%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.8%
2.3%
3.4%
People per household
1.97
2.54
2.44
2.53
Drive alone
73%
68%
61%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
7%
7%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
4%
7%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
5%
3%
Work from home
20%
16%
19%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 1.97 on average, against 2.54 in Essex County.
Working from home is more common in Salisbury: 20%, against 16% in Essex County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Salisbury?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Salisbury, worth $465,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Salisbury, which is $92,469 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $166,272 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Essex County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Salisbury. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $16,307 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$3,880
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$457,461
Total interest
$658,179
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $7,868 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,158 a month
Tight
$2,158 to $2,774 a month
Hard
more than $2,774 a month
Your payment · 50%
Compared with the typical household income in Salisbury ($92,469 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,099
Property tax
$381
Home insurance
$194
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$206
You need at least $16,307 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $3,880; principal and interest $3,099.
The city and its county
Salisbury and Essex County
Salisbury is in Essex County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Salisbury
Map of Essex County, Massachusetts, with Salisbury marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Salisbury
Essex County
Other cities with a page
Salisbury's own numbers
Typical home value
$465,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,770
Typical yearly household income
$92,469
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.98%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Essex County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,367–$3,008
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.8%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Essex County.
A typical home in Salisbury is worth $465,900: 25% below the county and 17% below Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Salisbury ($92,469 a year), a typical home costs 5.0 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Salisbury5.0 years
Essex6.1 years
Massachusetts5.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Essex County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Essex County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Essex County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Essex County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +5.4% +5.4% 2016
2017: +6.9% +6.9% 2017
2018: +5.4% +5.4% 2018
2019: +4.7% +4.7% 2019
2020: +3.3% +3.3% 2020
2021: +11.4% +11.4% 2021
2022: +13.3% +13.3% 2022
2023: +6.7% +6.7% 2023
2024: +5.9% +5.9% 2024
2025: +4.8% +4.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Essex County, Massachusetts and the United States
Period
County
Massachusetts
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.8%
+3.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+50%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+92%
+87%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Salisbury next to Essex County, Massachusetts and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Salisbury$465,900
Essex$619,100
Massachusetts$562,100
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Salisbury$1,770
Essex$1,756
Massachusetts$1,762
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Salisbury$92,469
Essex$101,883
Massachusetts$103,960
United States$80,734
See the full table
Salisbury next to Essex County and Massachusetts
Measure
Salisbury
Essex County
Massachusetts
U.S.
Typical home value
$465,900 ▼25% below the county
$619,100
$562,100
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,770
$1,756
$1,762
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$92,469 ▼9% below the county
$101,883
$103,960
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▲2 points above the county
64%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,561 ▼29% below the county
$6,430
$5,992
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.98% ▼0.06 points below the county
1.04%
1.07%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
60% ▲3 points above the county
57%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Essex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Salisbury
For a typical $465,900 home in Salisbury, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Salisbury's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$3,880a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$16,307
Cash to close
$30,284
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $206
Conventional, 5% down$3,794a month
Down payment
$23,295
Cash to close
$37,272
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $221
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$3,100a month
Down payment
$93,180
Cash to close
$107,157
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$3,530a month
Down payment
$69,885
Cash to close
$83,862
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Salisbury
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$3,880
$16,307
$457,461
7.18%
FHA MIP · $206
$30,284
580
Conventional, 5% down
$3,794
$23,295
$442,605
7.18%
PMI · $221
$37,272
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$3,100
$93,180
$372,720
7.18%
None
$107,157
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$3,530
$69,885
$396,015
8.18%
None
$83,862
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Salisbury is $1,770 a month: about the same as the county. In Salisbury, 60% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Essex County; Salisbury is in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,008 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $57.85 an hour working full time.
Fair market rent by size in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$2,440
$46.92
$97,600
1 bedroom
$2,518
$48.42
$100,720
2 bedrooms
$3,008
$57.85
$120,320
3 bedrooms
$3,584
$68.92
$143,360
4 bedrooms
$3,953
$76.02
$158,120
HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $2,367 to $3,008. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
Fair market rent by HUD area in Essex County
HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.
Fair market rent by HUD area in Essex County
HUD area
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
Hourly wage, 2 bd
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR AreaThe area where most people liveSalisbury is in this area24 towns in this area
Amesbury city, Beverly city, Danvers town, Essex town, Gloucester city, Hamilton town, Ipswich town, Lynn city, Lynnfield town, Manchester-by-the-Sea town, Marblehead town, Middleton town, Nahant town, Newbury town, Newburyport city, Peabody city, Rockport town, Rowley town, Salem city, Salisbury town, Saugus town, Swampscott town, Topsfield town, Wenham town
$2,440
$2,518
$3,008
$3,584
$3,953
$57.85
Lawrence, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area10 towns in this area
Andover town, Boxford town, Georgetown town, Groveland town, Haverhill city, Lawrence city, Merrimac town, Methuen city, North Andover town, West Newbury town
$1,677
$1,809
$2,367
$2,820
$3,111
$45.52
HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Salisbury
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Salisbury is in ZIP code 01952.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,650.
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Salisbury, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
01952
$2,150
$2,230
$2,650
$3,180
$3,510
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
01952 $2,650$3,180
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Salisbury when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Essex County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Salisbury or Essex County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Salisbury the same as in the rest of the state.
Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income.Offered by MassHousing.
No legal help resource on our list is for Salisbury or Essex County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Salisbury and all of Essex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Salisbury?
The typical home value in Salisbury is $465,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Essex County it is $619,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Salisbury?
Typical rent in Salisbury is $1,770 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Essex County is $2,367–$3,008.
What is the FHA loan limit in Salisbury?
Salisbury uses the FHA limit for all of Essex County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Salisbury?
The typical homeowner in Salisbury pays $4,561 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.98% of the home’s value; in Essex County, the rate is 1.04%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Salisbury?
There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Essex County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.