What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Lenox	Dalton
People
Population	5,079Lowest	6,256Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lenox and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
	Lenox and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Highest 38% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
	Lenox and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Highest 12% below MA	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 22% below MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	10.9Highest
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.