Compare towns
Dalton vs Acton vs Great Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Great Barrington has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Dalton | Acton | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
24,155Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Great Barrington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,935 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Acton-Boxborough | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
13.5Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.