Compare towns
Salisbury vs Windham 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%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Windham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
19,188Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Windham 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% |
15.9%±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% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Windham 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. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Windham 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
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.