Compare towns
Salisbury vs Bridgewater vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Salisbury | Bridgewater | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
1,169Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Highest 46% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Newfound Area School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.