Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dalton vs Newburyport
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
6,256 |
18,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
49.8±2.9 25% above MA |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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% |
19.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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 |
$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,592±$221 10% below MA |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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 |
$7,944Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Newburyport 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newburyport 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 | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Newburyport |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.