Compare towns
Dalton vs Salisbury vs Sutton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Salisbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
5,656 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Sutton 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% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Sutton 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 about the U.S. average |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Salisbury 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. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sutton 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. |
$4,561 46% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Sutton 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 | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.