Compare towns
Salisbury vs Brookfield vs Deerfield
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%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Brookfield | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
3,460Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| Brookfield and Deerfield 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% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Brookfield and Deerfield 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Brookfield | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.