Compare towns
Dalton vs Ayer vs Deerfield
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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Dalton | Ayer | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
8,645Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Ayer and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Deerfield 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ayer Shirley School District | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.