Compare towns
Dalton vs Putney vs Great Barrington
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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Great Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).
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 | Putney | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
2,622Lowest |
7,202Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±4.2Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Great Barrington and Dalton 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% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$84,132±$11kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Great Barrington and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 38% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,314±$239Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,935Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Great Barrington and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Great Barrington and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.