What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).

Cheshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Cheshire
People
Population	6,256Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA	53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA
	Cheshire 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%	15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Cheshire 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Cheshire 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±$8kHighest 24% below MA	$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kHighest 47% below MA	$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA
	Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70 51% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Highest 29% below MA	$3,005Lowest 50% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8%	21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dalton and Cheshire 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%	8.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%	4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Cheshire 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	#274 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Hoosac Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.