Compare towns
Dalton vs West Brookfield vs Deerfield
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 most kids (20.6% under 18).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | West Brookfield | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
3,859Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Deerfield 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% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and West Brookfield 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±$21k 37% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and West Brookfield 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 |
$4,260Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quaboag Regional | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.