Compare towns
Dalton vs Salem vs Beverly
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Beverly has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Salem | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
44,795Highest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Beverly 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% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
| Salem and Beverly 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Salem 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Salem | Beverly |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Salem High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.