Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dudley 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%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Dudley | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
11,929Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Hatfield 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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 |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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 |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,930Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dudley 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.