Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dedham vs Berlin 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).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Dedham | Berlin | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
25,237Highest |
3,378Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dedham 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 about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Dedham and Berlin 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Berlin 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | — | Berlin-Boylston | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | — | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.