The Town FilesDalton, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 6,330 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $295,700
- Household income
- $79,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 49.7
Dalton is a town of 6,330 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $295,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 85% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
How Dalton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dalton is worth $295,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $79,438, which is more affordable than 84% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $872 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dalton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $295,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $872 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $79,438 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Dalton
| People | Dalton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Dalton
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 13.9°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dalton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 13, 1975 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Dalton itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Dalton
3 public schools with 1,293 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wahconah Regional High | 9-12 | 482 | 11.2 |
| Craneville | K-5 | 453 | 14.6 |
| Nessacus Regional Middle School | 6-8 | 358 | 14.3 |
Towns near Dalton
- Pittsfield, MA5.8 mi · 43,927 people · home $256,900
- Lanesborough, MA5.9 mi · 3,038 people · home $299,400
- Cheshire, MA5.9 mi · 3,258 people · home $268,200
- Lenox, MA9.7 mi · 5,095 people · home $466,700
- Adams, MA10.2 mi · 8,166 people · home $209,900
- Adams, MA10.5 mi · 5,466 people · home $197,400
- Lee, MA12.9 mi · 5,788 people · home $352,700
- North Adams, MA13.6 mi · 12,961 people · home $195,900
Dalton questions
Is Dalton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dalton scores better for retirees than 85% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 80%. 27.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Dalton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dalton is valued at $295,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,438, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $872 a month.
What is the weather like in Dalton?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 13.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 76.5 inches of snow.
Does Dalton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dalton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 13, 1975. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)