Compare towns
Dalton vs Maynard vs Salisbury vs Deerfield
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).
Maynard has the highest household income ($124k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Maynard | Salisbury | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
10,712Highest |
9,281 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Maynard and Deerfield 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Maynard and Salisbury 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 |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Maynard and Salisbury 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Maynard | Triton | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Maynard High | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.