Compare towns
Dalton vs Hudson vs Salisbury 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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Hudson | Salisbury | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
20,077Highest |
9,281 |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Salisbury 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% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Salisbury 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% |
46.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Hudson 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 |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Windsor and Hudson 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 |
$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Hudson and Salisbury 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 |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
— |
| Salisbury and Hudson 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 |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Salisbury 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hudson | Triton | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Hudson High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.