Compare towns
Deerfield vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
616Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Deerfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #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 History | 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.