Compare towns
Dalton vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Washington
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 renters (29.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Worcester | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,943 |
831 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 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%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Washington 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Worcester 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.