Compare towns
Dalton vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest 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% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
| Deerfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Worcester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
24 minHighest 17% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.