Compare towns
Dalton vs Salisbury vs Lee 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Salisbury | Lee | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
5,656 |
5,719 |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
| Lee and Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Lee 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 |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
— |
| Salisbury and Lee 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 |
$4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.