Compare towns
Salisbury vs Epping vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Epping | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
7,430Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 40% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 46% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.