Compare towns
Deerfield vs Chaplin vs Dalton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Chaplin | Dalton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
2,070Lowest |
6,256Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Chaplin 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Central Berkshire | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Parish Hill High School | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.