Compare towns
Salisbury vs Windham vs Hatfield 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 the most renters (34.5% rent).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Windham | Hatfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656 |
594Lowest |
3,325 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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. |
— | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% 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. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #198 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hatfield | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | — | Smith Academy | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.