Compare towns
Salisbury vs Windham vs Great Barrington
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 kids (19.2% under 18).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
19,188Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2 28% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Great Barrington 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% |
28.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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% |
49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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±$31k 40% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,314±$239 7% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,935Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 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 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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 | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.