Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Salisbury vs Hatfield
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%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202 |
9,281Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 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%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% 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 |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 25% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Triton | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | None in town | 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.