Compare towns
Dalton vs Plainfield vs Hinsdale
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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Hinsdale has the most homeowners (78.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
15,141Highest |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.8±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Hinsdale 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.7Lowest 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Hinsdale 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hinsdale and Plainfield 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. |
$77,845±$17k 4% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Hinsdale 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±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$267,600±$35kLowest 20% 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. |
$1,109±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hinsdale 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,065Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| 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.