Compare towns
Salisbury vs Chilmark vs Great Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k median).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Great Barrington 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 | Chilmark | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
1,578Lowest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
| Chilmark and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Chilmark and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
| Chilmark and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Great Barrington 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 | — | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Up-Island Regional | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.