SALISBURY BANCORP (PARENT ONLY) CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
Net income	$ 4,077	$ 4,112	$ 3,660
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary	(1,873)	(1,757)	(1,380)
Accretion of securities		(11)	(11)
Other	16	(3)	13
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,220	2,341	2,282
Investing Activities
Investment in bank		(6,466)
Purchases of securities available-for-sale
Maturities of securities available-for-sale	1,103		2,000
Net cash provided (utilized) by investing activities	1,103	(6,466)	2,000
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends paid	(1,892)	(1,891)	(1,890)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(240)	(382)	(441)
Payment to repurchase Preferred Stock		(8,816)
Payment to repurchase warrants		(205)
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock	24	28	23
Proceeds from issuance of Preferred Stock		16,000
Net cash (utilized) provided by financing activities	(2,108)	4,734	(2,308)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,215	609	1,974
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	9,082	8,473	6,499
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 10,297	$ 9,082	$ 8,473