Compare towns
Dalton vs Exeter 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Exeter | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
16,151Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Washington 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dalton 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Washington 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.