Compare towns
Salisbury vs Alstead 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 (+11.5%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Alstead | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
1,551Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
— | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.