Compare towns
Dalton vs Springfield vs Worcester
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).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Dalton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 minHighest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton and Worcester 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.