Salisbury is a small town of 1,430 in Missouri, with a median household income of $50,109
and a 5.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Salisbury stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Salisbury is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Salisbury city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.7
Salisbury's overall cost of living index is 87.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Salisbury costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Salisbury, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$102,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$619
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,109
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Salisbury's violent crime rate is 336.7 per 100,000 residents
— 11% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
336.7 /100k
Property Crime
592.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Salisbury is served primarily by SALISBURY R-IV.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Salisbury, MO
National Avg
School District
SALISBURY R-IV
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Salisbury sees average highs of 37.1°F in January
and 87.8°F in July,
with 40.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.2 inches of snow per year.
Salisbury's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Salisbury roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $102,100 and median rent is $619/month.
Salisbury's violent crime rate is 336.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 592.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Salisbury are operated by SALISBURY R-IV.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Salisbury, MO has a population of 1,430, a median household income of $50,109, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Salisbury averages 37.1°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.0 inches
with about 12.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Salisbury, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65281.
The population of Salisbury, Missouri is 1,430 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Salisbury: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $102,100, median household income $50,109, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Salisbury side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.