Compare towns
Dalton vs Ayer vs Pittsfield
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 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 | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
8,645 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Pittsfield 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% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield 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±$8k 24% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield 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% MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Dalton 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 | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ayer Shirley School District | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.