Compare towns
Dalton vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Deerfield
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
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 | Ripton | Salisbury | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
508Lowest |
9,281Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Deerfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 11% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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. |
— | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Triton | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.