Compare towns
Dalton vs Orange vs Warwick vs Washington
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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Orange | Warwick | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
7,573Highest |
776 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
0%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Warwick 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Warwick and Dalton 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 51% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick and Washington 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Warwick | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.