Compare towns
Dalton vs Hingham vs Hull vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Hingham | Hull | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
24,283 |
10,138 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hull 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Dalton 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% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Hull 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hingham | — | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Hingham High | — | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.