Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dalton vs Calais vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Dalton | Calais | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
6,256Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4 21% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Calais and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.