What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Dalton
People
Population	5,572Lowest	6,256Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
	Dalton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dalton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Highest 42% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
	Barre and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dalton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Barre 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	#134 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.