Compare towns
Salisbury vs Great Barrington vs Seabrook Beach
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%).
Great Barrington has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Seabrook Beach has the most expensive homes ($921k 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 | Great Barrington | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
7,202Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2Lowest 28% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$93,571±$43kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Seabrook Beach 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±$31kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61k 49% above U.S. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,314±$239Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,725±$575 22% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,935 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Great Barrington 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 | — |
| School district | — | Berkshire Hills | — |
| High school in town | — | Monument Mt Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.