Compare towns
Dalton vs Reading vs Walpole 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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| 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%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Triton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
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| 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.