Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dalton vs Merrimac
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
6,256Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
49.4±6.8Lowest 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Merrimac 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%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Merrimac 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Salisbury and Merrimac 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 |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Merrimac 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Central Berkshire | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.