Compare towns
Salisbury vs Saco 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%).
Saco has the youngest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Saco | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
20,819Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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 15% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Saco 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. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.