Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Salisbury vs Hatfield vs Plainville
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 the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,202 |
9,281 |
3,325Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville 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% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Salisbury 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 |
$476,000±$35k 15% 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±$411 4% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,329 11% 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% |
53.8%±13.6 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% 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 |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 25% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 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 | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Triton | Hatfield | Plainville |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.