Compare towns

Deerfield vs Williamsburg 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).
Williamsburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.

MeasureDeerfieldWilliamsburgDalton
People
Population
5,158
2,694Lowest
6,256Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-6.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51.8±3.6Highest
30% above MA
50±2.4
25% above MA
49.7±5.8Lowest
24% above MA
Deerfield and Williamsburg 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%±4
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±4.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dalton and Williamsburg 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%
22.7%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
27.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Dalton and Deerfield 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%
60.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.9%±3.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7
MA: 7.9%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Deerfield and Williamsburg 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
$104,792±$21k
about the MA average
$79,438±$8kLowest
24% below MA
Deerfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$414,900±$37kHighest
26% below MA
$403,100±$37k
28% below MA
$295,700±$26kLowest
47% below MA
Deerfield and Williamsburg 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
$1,420±$228Highest
19% below MA
$872±$70Lowest
51% below MA
Williamsburg and Deerfield 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
$5,761
4% below MA
$4,276Lowest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.2%±19
MA: 51.8%
Williamsburg 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
MA: 10%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%
MA: 62.5%
82.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1957
7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
40% below MA
25 minHighest
13% below MA
22 min
24% below MA
Work from home
17.5%±6.2
MA: 18.6%
26.5%±6.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±7.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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

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.