Compare towns
Deerfield vs Salisbury vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
9,281Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| 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 24% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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 | Triton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.