Compare towns
Salisbury vs Buzzards Bay vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Buzzards Bay has the most homeowners (75.7%).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
2,909Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Salisbury and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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 |
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.