Compare towns
Dalton vs Gardner 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Gardner | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
21,148Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above 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%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington 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±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.