Compare towns
Dalton vs Epping vs Great Barrington
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Great Barrington has the most expensive homes ($494k 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 | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
7,430Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5Lowest 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8%Highest 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% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Great Barrington and Epping 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. |
$1,314±$239 7% below U.S. |
| Epping and Great Barrington 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. |
$5,935 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Great Barrington 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Epping School District | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Epping High School | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.3 |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.