Compare towns
Webster vs Dalton vs Webster vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Webster | Dalton | Webster | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
6,256Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
| Clinton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
54.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Webster | Clinton |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Bartlett High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.6 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.