Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sunapee 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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Sunapee | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
3,416Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Sunapee 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 15% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee 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±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sunapee 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. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%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 min 13% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | 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 |
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.