Compare towns
Dalton vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Ripton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
508Lowest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%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% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Washington 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 38% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Dalton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Washington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.