Compare towns

Salisbury vs Pittsfield vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the most homeowners (71.2%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

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.

MeasureSalisburyPittsfieldSalisbury
People
Population
9,281
43,457Highest
5,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.5%
MA: +7.4%
-1.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+15.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51.3±3.5Highest
28% above MA
42.4±2Lowest
6% above MA
51±6.9
28% above MA
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
17.6%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
12.3%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
25.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±1.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
29.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Salisbury 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%
34.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
50.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
Pittsfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,361±$6kHighest
10% below MA
$70,582±$5kLowest
32% below MA
$92,469±$7k
11% below MA
Salisbury 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
$256,900±$8kLowest
54% below MA
$465,900±$31k
17% below MA
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,691±$411
4% below MA
$1,134±$61Lowest
36% below MA
$1,770±$444Highest
about the MA average
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,604Highest
23% below MA
$4,148Lowest
31% below MA
$4,561
24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±11.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±5.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59.8%±11.2
MA: 51.8%
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
65.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% below MA
19 minLowest
36% below MA
30 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
19.8%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.2%±2.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±6.9
MA: 18.6%
Salisbury 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 #251 of 282 in MA #240 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Pittsfield —
High school in town None in town Taconic High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3
—
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.