Compare towns

Great Barrington vs Danvers vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Great Barrington has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

MeasureGreat BarringtonDanversSalisbury
People
Population
7,202Lowest
28,098Highest
9,281
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±4.2
24% above MA
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
51.3±3.5Highest
28% above MA
Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.9%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Danvers and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.7%±4.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
Great Barrington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%
MA: 47.3%
43.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.8%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,132±$11kLowest
19% below MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$93,361±$6k
10% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$494,300±$61k
12% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$478,700±$27kLowest
15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,314±$239Lowest
25% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,691±$411
4% below MA
Danvers and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,935
about the MA average
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$4,604Lowest
23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.9%±15.2
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±11.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.2%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
71.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
25% below MA
28 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
23.6%±6.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±5.8
MA: 18.6%
Great Barrington 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 #139 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #240 of 282 in MA
School district Berkshire Hills Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Triton
High school in town Monument Mt Regional High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.2Lowest
12.8Highest
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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.