Compare towns
Salisbury vs Upton vs Sutton 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Upton | Sutton | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Sutton 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Sutton 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.