Compare towns
Dalton vs Framingham vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Framingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Framingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
72,399Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| 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%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Framingham 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 47% below MA |
$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham 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% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Framingham 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Framingham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.