Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Hatfield 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 most people working from home (23.6%).
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Great Barrington | Hatfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202Highest |
3,325Lowest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Great Barrington and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,935Highest about the MA average |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 25% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.