Compare towns
Dalton vs Deerfield vs Hatfield 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
Hatfield has the youngest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Dalton | Deerfield | Hatfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
5,158 |
3,325Lowest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Hatfield 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 |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Deerfield 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 |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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 |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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 |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.