Compare towns
Salisbury vs Marblehead vs Great Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Great Barrington 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 | Marblehead | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
20,413Highest |
7,202Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Great Barrington 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 MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
| Marblehead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$5,935 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Great Barrington 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Marblehead | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.