Compare towns
Dalton vs Everett 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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Everett | Windsor | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
50,045Highest |
1,065Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Deerfield 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Deerfield 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
— | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Deerfield 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Everett | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Everett High | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.