Compare towns
Dalton vs Chester vs Deerfield
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Deerfield 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.
| Measure | Dalton | Chester | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,992Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Deerfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Chester 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 about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% 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% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield and Chester 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 | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Green Mountain Union High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
8.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.