Compare towns
Dalton vs Reading vs Salisbury 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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Reading | Salisbury | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
699Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,065 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$115,563±$10kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
— |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$3,867Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Windsor 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Triton | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.