Compare towns
Dalton vs Putnam vs Windsor
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Putnam | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
9,292Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$115,563±$10kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$389,700±$32kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Dalton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.