Compare towns
Salisbury vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
831Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Salisbury 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 16% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.