Compare towns
Salisbury vs Athol vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Athol has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Athol | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
12,011Highest |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Athol 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 10% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Highest 23% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Athol-Royalston | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.