Compare towns
Dalton vs Lancaster vs Great Barrington
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Great Barrington has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
8,606Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Great Barrington 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,935 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Nashoba | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.