Compare towns
Deerfield vs Middlesex vs Salisbury vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Deerfield | Middlesex | Salisbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
1,943Lowest |
9,281Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest 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+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 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 | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Triton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.