Compare towns
Dalton vs Dover vs Windsor vs Washington
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 renters (29.3% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 44.8).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Dover | Windsor | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,308 |
1,065 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Dalton 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 51% below MA |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,381 27% 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% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.