Compare towns
Dalton vs Needham vs Hinsdale
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
32,459Highest |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±10.1 9% above MA |
| Dalton and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hinsdale and Needham 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 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$77,845±$17kLowest 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$267,600±$35kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$118 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,065Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Needham | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.