Compare towns
Erving vs Dalton vs Wales
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
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 | Erving | Dalton | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
6,256Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dalton and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wales and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Wales and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$296,200±$26kHighest 47% below MA |
| Wales and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,104±$242 37% below MA |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,534Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales and Dalton 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Central Berkshire | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.