Compare towns
Dalton vs Chilmark vs Windsor vs Deerfield
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 44.8).
Deerfield 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 | Chilmark | Windsor | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,578 |
1,065Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| Chilmark and Deerfield 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% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Chilmark 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Chilmark 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Chilmark and Deerfield 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 |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Windsor 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 | — | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Up-Island Regional | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.