Compare towns
Dalton vs Erving vs Gill
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Erving | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,703Lowest |
1,740 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Dalton and Gill 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$90,208±$14kHighest 13% below MA |
| Gill and Dalton 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$340,100±$17kHighest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
| Gill and Erving 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,318Highest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill 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 | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Erving | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.