Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dalton vs Deerfield vs Berlin
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%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Dalton | Deerfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656 |
6,256Highest |
5,158 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Berlin 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% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$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 | $4,561 24% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 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% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.