What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Warren	Dalton
People
Population	5,009Lowest	6,256Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
	Dalton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Warren and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Warren and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA	$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA
	Dalton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
	Warren and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$174Highest 49% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
	Warren and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,530Highest 24% below MA	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dalton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Quaboag Regional	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Quaboag Regional High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.