Compare towns
Berlin vs Dalton vs Lee vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Dalton | Lee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
6,256Highest |
5,719 |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Central Berkshire | Lee | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.