Compare towns
Dalton vs Salisbury vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
9,281 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Windham 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 |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Salisbury 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Triton | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.