Compare towns
Dalton vs Townshend 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Townshend | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
1,538Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.4±2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Townshend 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. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Townshend 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. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,134±$61Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Townshend 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. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,148Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
8.1Lowest |
9.3 |
| 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.