What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Thompson
People
Population	6,256Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Thompson 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%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dalton and Thompson 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thompson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Dalton and Thompson 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.	$1,012±$344Highest 28% below U.S.
	Thompson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Central Berkshire	Thompson School District
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.