Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Salisbury vs Alford
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).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k median).
Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k 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 | Great Barrington | Salisbury | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202 |
9,281Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Alford and Salisbury 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 |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington and Alford 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Triton | — |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.