Compare towns
Dalton vs Springfield vs Windsor vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Springfield | Windsor | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
154,749Highest |
1,065Lowest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% 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%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
— | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$4,604Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Springfield | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Springfield Central High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.