Compare towns
Salisbury vs Great Barrington 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%).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Great Barrington | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
7,202Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Great Barrington 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% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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 |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Great Barrington 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 |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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 |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Berkshire Hills | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Monument Mt Regional High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.