Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Berlin vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Great Barrington has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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.
| Measure | Great Barrington | Berlin | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202Highest |
3,378Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Berlin and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,935 about the MA average |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Berlin-Boylston | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.