Compare towns
Washington vs Becket vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the highest household income ($95k).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Washington | Becket | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
1,962 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Washington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Becket and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Washington 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 | — | Central Berkshire | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.