Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dalton vs Wauregan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Dalton | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
6,256 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
32±5.9Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±9.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wauregan and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,545±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Wauregan and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$262,700±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,254±$476Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Wauregan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,649Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.