Compare towns
Deerfield vs Exeter vs Dalton
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Deerfield 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Deerfield 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Exeter High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.