Compare towns

Mount Washington vs Dalton vs Sheffield

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).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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 WashingtonDaltonSheffield
People
Population
193Lowest
6,256Highest
3,330
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-6.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.1±10.7Highest
30% above MA
49.7±5.8
24% above MA
48.2±8Lowest
21% above MA
Mount Washington and Dalton 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%
13.3%±4Lowest
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%±13
MA: 17.9%
27.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
23.2%±5.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Dalton and Mount Washington 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%
37.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±7.7
MA: 7.9%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sheffield 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
$92,120±$31k
11% below MA
Mount Washington and Sheffield 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
$409,400±$32k
27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$872±$70Lowest
51% below MA
$1,837±$1kHighest
4% above MA
Sheffield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,316Lowest
45% below MA
$4,276
29% below MA
$4,520Highest
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.2%±19
MA: 51.8%
29.2%±21.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Mount Washington and Dalton 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%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
5% above MA
22 min
24% below MA
21 minLowest
29% below MA
Work from home
30.1%±14.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±7.1
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Mount Washington 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 #250 of 282 in MA
School district — Central Berkshire Southern Berkshire
High school in town — Wahconah Regional High Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9Highest
7.8Lowest
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.