Compare towns
Dalton vs Putnam vs Washington
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Putnam | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
9,292Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Washington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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 about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Washington 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,381Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Dalton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.