Compare towns
Dalton vs Brewer vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Pittsfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1950).
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 | Brewer | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
9,652 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.4±2 9% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,582±$5k 13% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$256,900±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,134±$61Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,148 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton and Pittsfield 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Brewer Public Schools | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Brewer High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
14.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.