Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Salem vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Pittsfield | Salem | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457 |
44,795Highest |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Dalton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Salem and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61 36% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Dalton 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 | #251 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pittsfield | Salem | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Taconic High | Salem High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
9.8 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.