Compare towns
Salisbury vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dalton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.