Compare towns
Dalton vs Oakham vs Otis
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Oakham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,639 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Dalton 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% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Otis 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Oakham and Otis 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 |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| 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 |
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.