Compare towns
Salisbury vs Buzzards Bay vs Hatfield
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 oldest population (median age 54.4).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Highest |
2,909Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% 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% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hatfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest 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% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% 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 |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% 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 | $4,561 24% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,930Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | — | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.