What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Salem
People
Population	6,256Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Salem 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%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
	Salem and Dalton 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	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Dalton 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Salem
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.