Compare towns
Dalton vs Ayer 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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
8,645Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5Lowest 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%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
| Ayer and Great Barrington 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
| Great Barrington and Ayer 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 |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Great Barrington 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 |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington and Ayer 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% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington and Ayer 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 | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ayer Shirley School District | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.5Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.