Compare towns
Salisbury vs Hampden 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%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hampden | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
7,896 |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Dalton 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | RSU 22 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
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.