Compare towns
Dalton vs Plainfield vs Deerfield
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield 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±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Deerfield 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. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Deerfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Plainfield School District | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.