Compare towns
Dalton vs Dudley vs Ware vs Deerfield
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 renters (29.3% rent).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Deerfield 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 24% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
| Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.