Compare towns
Salisbury vs Great Barrington 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%).
Great Barrington has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Great Barrington | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
7,202 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington 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% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Merrimac 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% |
28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Merrimac 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 |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% 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 | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,935 about the MA average |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Berkshire Hills | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.