Compare towns
Salisbury vs Westminster vs Windham vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Dalton 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 | Westminster | Windham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Dalton 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 16% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham 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 44% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $872±$70 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | — | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.