Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Plainfield vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Dalton has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Pittsfield | Plainfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
616Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA |
| Dalton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61 36% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Plainfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.9% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | #251 of 282 in MA | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pittsfield | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Taconic High | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.