Compare towns
Washington vs Dalton vs Florida
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 most expensive homes ($371k median).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Washington | Dalton | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
6,256Highest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Washington 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% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Florida 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
| Washington and Florida 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 |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $872±$70Highest 51% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Dalton and Florida 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 |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Florida 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
26 minHighest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Washington 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Florida |
| High school 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 |
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.