Compare towns
Dalton vs Barre vs Windsor vs Lee
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 most kids (20.6% under 18).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Barre | Windsor | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
5,572 |
1,065Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Lee 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 |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Windsor and Barre 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 |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Barre 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 |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
— | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Barre 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 |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Lee 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | — | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.