Compare towns
Salisbury vs Plainville 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 the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
9,943Highest |
7,202Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% 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% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville and Great Barrington 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% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
| Plainville 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±$27k 15% below MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
| Great Barrington 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 |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
| Plainville 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 |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Plainville | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.