What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Hatfield
People
Population	6,256Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA
	Dalton and Hatfield 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%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dalton and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield 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±$8kLowest 24% below MA	$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA
	Hatfield 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	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA	$4,930Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 24% below MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Hatfield
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.