Compare towns
Salisbury vs Devens 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%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Devens | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
1,723Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
48.6±4.3Lowest 22% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Devens and Salisbury 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 |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Devens 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 |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Salisbury 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% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 |
| 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.