Compare towns

Mount Washington vs Dalton vs Middlefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Washington has the most people working from home (30.1%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).

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.

MeasureMount WashingtonDaltonMiddlefield
People
Population
193Lowest
6,256Highest
352
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-26.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.1±10.7
30% above MA
49.7±5.8Lowest
24% above MA
56.9±3.7Highest
42% above MA
Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.1%±14.2
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±4.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
4.5%±9.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Dalton and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.5%±13Lowest
MA: 17.9%
27.9%±5.7
MA: 17.9%
28.7%±8.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Middlefield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44.3%
MA: 47.3%
31.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±7.7
MA: 7.9%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,500±$26kHighest
37% above MA
$79,438±$8kLowest
24% below MA
$103,750±$23k
about the MA average
Mount Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$714,300±$141kHighest
27% above MA
$295,700±$26kLowest
47% below MA
$332,800±$48k
41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$872±$70Lowest
51% below MA
$2,625±$1kHighest
49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,316Lowest
45% below MA
$4,276
29% below MA
$4,926Highest
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100
MA: 51.8%
41.2%±19Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.4%
MA: 10%
12.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
94.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
5% above MA
22 minLowest
24% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
Work from home
30.1%±14.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±7.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
13.2%±9.2
MA: 18.6%
Mount Washington and Middlefield 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 — Central Berkshire —
High school in town — Wahconah Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9
—
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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.