Compare towns
Dalton vs Salisbury vs Ware
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,656Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Salisbury 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±$26k 47% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.