What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Plainfield
People
Population	6,256Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest 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%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
	Dalton and Plainfield 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.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest 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	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.