What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most people working from home (5.9%).

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

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	Stratton
People
Population	916Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±12.9Highest 14% above U.S.	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Dalton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stratton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dalton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,429±$36kLowest about the U.S. average	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Stratton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S.	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.
	Stratton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S.	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dalton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dalton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.