Compare towns
Salisbury vs Hatfield vs Great Barrington
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%).
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
3,325Lowest |
7,202Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.7±4.2 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%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7 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% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% 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±$31k 17% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% 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 |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,314±$239 25% 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 | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hatfield | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | — | Smith Academy | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
9.2Highest |
| 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.