Compare towns
Salisbury vs Kennebunk 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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Kennebunk | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
6,221Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Kennebunk 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% |
30.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Kennebunk 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. |
$95,169±$21kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk 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. |
$452,800±$17k 36% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Kennebunk 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. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,771Highest 53% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #9 of 133 in ME | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.