Compare towns
Salisbury vs Kittery 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%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Kittery | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
10,473Highest |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% 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% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Kittery 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% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Kittery 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Kittery 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. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Kittery 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Salisbury 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. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% 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. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Kittery Public Schools | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.

