Compare towns
Dalton vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Exeter | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
16,151Highest |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 11% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,770±$444 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,561 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.