Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Salisbury vs Housatonic
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 expensive homes ($494k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Housatonic has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Housatonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202 |
9,281Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
51.8±9.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Housatonic and Salisbury 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% |
19%±8.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Housatonic 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.3%±10.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Great Barrington and Housatonic 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
— |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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 |
$437,000±$47kLowest 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±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,491±$462 15% below MA |
| Salisbury and Housatonic 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 |
$4,920 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±33.2Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26%±12.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Housatonic and Great Barrington 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.