Compare towns
Dalton vs Ripton vs St. George 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Ripton | St. George | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
508Lowest |
812 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4 15% above U.S. |
42.4±2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Dalton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ripton and St. George 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50k 13% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ripton and St. George 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. |
— | $1,394±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,134±$61 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,514Highest 77% above U.S. |
$4,148Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.