Compare towns
Dalton vs Putney vs Randolph 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Putney | Randolph | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Randolph 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 38% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Randolph 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Triton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.