Compare towns
Dalton vs Gray vs Hinsdale
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Hinsdale has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Gray | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
8,429Highest |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.8±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Hinsdale 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hinsdale and Gray 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 about the U.S. average |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$77,845±$17kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Gray 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±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$267,600±$35kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,065Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.