Compare towns
Peru vs Dalton vs Blandford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Blandford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Peru | Dalton | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
6,256Highest |
1,156 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Peru and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$91,902±$13kHighest 12% below MA |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$295,700±$26kHighest 47% below MA |
$287,900±$18k 49% below MA |
| Dalton and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,047±$459Highest 41% below MA |
| Blandford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,641Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.4%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.8%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blandford 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 | — |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.