Compare towns
Beverly vs Dalton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Beverly | Dalton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
6,256Lowest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Beverly and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
| Beverly and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Central Berkshire | Triton |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.