Compare towns
Deerfield vs Westminster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
2,999Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Westminster 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% |
46.3%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% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Westminster 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 31% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Highest 6% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Deerfield and Westminster 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Bellows Falls Union High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.