What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salisbury	Berlin
People
Population	5,656Highest	3,378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA	49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA
	Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Berlin and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Berlin and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA	$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA	$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average	$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA
	Berlin and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA	$7,116Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 17% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Berlin 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#61 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.