Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dover vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dover | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
33,364Highest |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Salisbury 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 16% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover 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 44% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Dover School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.