Compare towns
Dalton vs Epping vs Deerfield 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Epping | Deerfield | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
7,430 |
5,158Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.4±2Lowest 9% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Deerfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Epping and Deerfield 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,134±$61 20% below U.S. |
| Epping and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,148Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pittsfield 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Deerfield 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #156 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Epping School District | Deerfield · Frontier | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Epping High School | Frontier Regional | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.