Compare towns
Dalton vs Killingly vs Pittsfield vs Cheshire
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 people working from home (12.5%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cheshire has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Killingly | Pittsfield | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
17,867 |
43,457Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±2 9% above U.S. |
53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Cheshire 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittsfield and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5k 13% below U.S. |
$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Killingly 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±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$268,200±$48k 19% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,134±$61Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Pittsfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,148 33% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #251 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Pittsfield | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Killingly High School | Taconic High | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.