What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cheshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).

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	Cheshire	Dalton
People
Population	3,216Lowest	6,256Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA	49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA
	Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA	$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA	$295,700±$26kHighest 47% below MA
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$872±$70 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 50% below MA	$4,276Highest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Cheshire 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	#274 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Hoosac Valley High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.