What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	West Brookfield
People
Population	6,256Highest	3,859Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA	58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA
	West Brookfield 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 MA: 19.4%	13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	West Brookfield and Dalton 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%	34%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dalton and West Brookfield 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 24% below MA	$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA
	West Brookfield 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±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Highest 29% below MA	$4,260Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8%	30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dalton and West Brookfield 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%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	42 minHighest 44% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Brookfield 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	#162 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.