What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dudley	Dalton
People
Population	11,929Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
	Dudley and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$4,276Highest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 6% below MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.