Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Dalton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Center Harbor | Dalton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
6,256Highest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Highest 50% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,561 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.