Compare towns
Dalton vs Reading vs Reading vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 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 | Reading | Reading | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
25,612 |
25,612 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Reading | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Reading Memorial High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | 12.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.