Compare towns
Rowe vs Dalton vs Monroe vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Rowe | Dalton | Monroe | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453 |
6,256Highest |
122Lowest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA |
| Monroe and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
— | $96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
| Hancock and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458 76% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$2,053 66% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hancock and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton and Hancock 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 | Rowe | Central Berkshire | — | Hancock |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.