Compare towns
Dalton vs Deerfield vs Hampton Falls 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Dalton | Deerfield | Hampton Falls | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,158 |
2,328Lowest |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Salisbury 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 about the U.S. average |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest 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 | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier | Hampton Falls School District | Triton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.