Compare towns
Salisbury vs Peabody 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%).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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 | Peabody | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
54,695Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±2.4Lowest 13% 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% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Peabody 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% |
24.3%±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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Peabody 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 |
$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Peabody 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±$31k 17% below MA |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Peabody and Salisbury 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 |
$5,065Highest 15% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Peabody 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Peabody | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.