Compare towns
Hancock vs Salisbury vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most homeowners (82.8%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Hancock | Salisbury | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
9,281 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hancock and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
| Hancock and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$4,604Highest 23% below MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 25% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Hancock 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hancock | Triton | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.