Compare towns
Dalton vs Florida vs Great Barrington
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 most kids (20.6% under 18).
Florida has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Great Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).
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 | Florida | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
668Lowest |
7,202Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
| Florida 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 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$86,875±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
| Florida and Great Barrington 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 |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 51% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,314±$239Highest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
26 minHighest 10% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | — | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Florida | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.