Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dalton vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Amesbury | Dalton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
6,256 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Amesbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
10.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.