Compare towns
Dalton vs Oakham vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (12.5%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
1,639Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Oakham 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% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Dalton 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.