Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sturbridge vs Danby
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sturbridge | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,200 |
9,960Highest |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Danby and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842 55% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Danby 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.