Compare towns
Salisbury vs Northbridge vs Dalton
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%).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Northbridge | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
16,458Highest |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Northbridge 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 10% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Northbridge 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 15% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Salisbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Northbridge | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.