Compare towns
Dalton vs Windsor vs Cheshire
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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Cheshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Windsor | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,065Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire 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 24% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70 51% below MA |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.