Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sheffield vs Washington
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 people working from home (28%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Sheffield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,224Highest |
3,330Lowest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±9.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,256±$26kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130k 98% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,837±$1k 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,125Highest 64% above U.S. |
$4,520Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Washington 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #250 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salisbury School District | Southern Berkshire | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Everett Regional | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
9.1Highest |
| 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.