Compare towns
Dalton vs Hatfield vs Deerfield
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Hatfield | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
3,325Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield 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% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Hatfield 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±$25k 14% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Hatfield 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 |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Hatfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 24% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Hatfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hatfield | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Smith Academy | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
6.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.