Compare towns
Dalton vs Ware vs Warren vs Pittsfield
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Ware | Warren | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
10,048 |
5,009Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Dalton and Pittsfield 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Warren and Dalton 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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,134±$61Highest 36% below MA |
| Pittsfield and Ware 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ware | Quaboag Regional | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
10.0 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.