What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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	Deerfield	Dalton
People
Population	5,158Lowest	6,256Highest
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	49.7±5.8Lowest 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%	20.6%±4.7Highest 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+	22.9%±4.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest about the MA average	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dalton and Deerfield 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%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	22 minHighest 24% below MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield and Dalton 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
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.