Compare towns
Dalton vs Ayer vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Dalton | Ayer | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
8,645 |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Ayer and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ayer Shirley School District | Triton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.