Compare towns
Dalton vs Newark vs Pittsfield
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).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Newark | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
727Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±2 9% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Pittsfield 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newark 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% |
19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Newark 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$256,900±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,134±$61 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,148 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark 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 | — | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.