Compare towns
Dalton vs Middlesex vs Hinsdale
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Hinsdale has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Middlesex | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,943 |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.8±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hinsdale and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$77,845±$17kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,600±$35kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,109±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,065Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dalton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.