Compare towns
Dalton vs Webster vs Windsor vs Deerfield
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Webster | Windsor | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,227 |
1,065Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Deerfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Deerfield 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$115,563±$10kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Windsor 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| Webster and Deerfield 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,867Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Dalton 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Deerfield 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 | — | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.