Compare towns
Deerfield vs Amesbury vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Amesbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
17,403Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Amesbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Amesbury 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Amesbury | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Amesbury High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.