What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Dalton has the most homeowners (70.7%).

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	Worcester	Dalton
People
Population	207,055Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA
	Dalton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Highest 21% below MA	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 17% below MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dalton and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Central Berkshire
High school in town	South High Community	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	10.9Lowest
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.