Compare towns

Salisbury vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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.

MeasureSalisburyMeredithDalton
People
Population
5,656Lowest
6,758Highest
6,256
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+15.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51±6.9
31% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
49.7±5.8Lowest
28% above U.S.
Meredith and Salisbury 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%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
29.1%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Salisbury 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%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Salisbury and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,469±$7kHighest
15% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$79,438±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$465,900±$31k
40% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$295,700±$26kLowest
11% below U.S.
Meredith 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
25% above U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$872±$70Lowest
38% below U.S.
Salisbury and Meredith 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.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,276Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.8%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±19Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salisbury and Meredith 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%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
19.7%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 #62 of 120 in NH #192 of 282 in MA
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Central Berkshire
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
10.9Lowest
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.