Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dover vs Great Barrington
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 the highest household income ($93k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Great Barrington has the most kids (14.9% under 18).
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 | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
1,466Lowest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Dover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury 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. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,314±$239 7% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,935Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Great Barrington 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 | — | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 |
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.