Compare towns
Salisbury vs Harrisville 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%).
Harrisville has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Harrisville | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
885Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5Highest 51% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Harrisville 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% |
35.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harrisville and Dalton 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% |
54.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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. |
$103,036±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Harrisville 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±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$430,500±$48k 29% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Harrisville 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. |
$1,611±$367 14% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Harrisville 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. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Harrisville 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 |
| School district | Triton | Harrisville School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.