Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dalton vs Great Barrington vs Bourne
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%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
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 | Dalton | Great Barrington | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
6,256Lowest |
7,202 |
20,323Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
| Bourne 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne 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% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
| Salisbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
| Bourne and Great Barrington 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 |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
| Salisbury and Bourne 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
$4,485 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Central Berkshire | Berkshire Hills | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Monument Mt Regional High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.