Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Sturbridge 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 the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Sturbridge | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
9,960 |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Dalton and Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Dalton 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61 36% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 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% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pittsfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Taconic High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
7.7Lowest |
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.