Compare towns
Dalton vs Gorham 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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Gorham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
18,300Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%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% |
13.1%±1.9Highest 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 |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Gorham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.