Compare towns
Dalton vs Middlefield vs Washington
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).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
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 | Middlefield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
352Lowest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Middlefield 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 MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Middlefield 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 |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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 |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Middlefield 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 |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Washington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.