Compare towns
Deerfield vs Meredith 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 highest household income ($106k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Meredith | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Deerfield and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Deerfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Inter-Lakes High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.