Compare towns
Dalton vs Reading vs Pittsfield
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
699Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Reading and Dalton 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,134±$61Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,148Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.