What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).

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	Chester
People
Population	6,256Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8 28% above U.S.	49.7±4.7 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester 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 U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester 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 about the U.S. average	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S.	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Dalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.	$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S.
	Chester and Dalton 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.	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dalton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester 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	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Central Berkshire	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.