Compare towns
Dalton vs Middlesex vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Middlesex | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,943 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Dalton 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 about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.