Compare towns
Dalton vs Sharon 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 people working from home (12.5%).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Sharon | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
442Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
42.4±2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Sharon 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% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$1,134±$61 20% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Pittsfield 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. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,148Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton and Sharon 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 | — | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | 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.