Compare towns
Salisbury vs Hampton Falls vs Dalton vs Amesbury
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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Hampton Falls | Dalton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
2,328Lowest |
6,256 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Amesbury 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Amesbury 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Salisbury 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Hampton Falls School District | Central Berkshire | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.