Compare towns
Salisbury vs Pittsfield 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%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Pittsfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
43,457Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% 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% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Pittsfield 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% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest 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% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield 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±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Pittsfield 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% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest 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 | #251 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Pittsfield | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Taconic High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.