Compare towns
Salisbury vs Freeport 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%).
Freeport has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Freeport | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
8,802 |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport 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±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Freeport 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. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Freeport 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. |
$5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Salisbury 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | RSU 05 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.