Compare towns
Dalton vs Ayer vs Washington
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%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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.
| Measure | Dalton | Ayer | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
8,645Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington 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% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Dalton 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±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Ayer and Washington 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 |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Washington 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 | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.