Compare towns
Dalton vs Epping vs Epsom vs Washington
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 renters (29.3% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Epping | Epsom | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
7,430Highest |
4,939 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Washington 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% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest 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%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%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% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Washington 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. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Epsom 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Epping School District | Epsom School District | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Epping High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
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.