Compare towns
Dalton vs Ashburnham vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Dalton | Ashburnham | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
6,415Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Dalton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
— |
| Ashburnham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ashburnham-Westminster | — |
| 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.