What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most homeowners (70.7%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	6,256Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Worcester 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%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
	Dalton and Worcester 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	$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA	$4,733Highest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Dalton 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%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	24 minHighest 17% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.