Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dalton vs Heath vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Windsor has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Plainfield | Dalton | Heath | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
6,256Highest |
765 |
1,065 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Windsor and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— | — |
| Plainfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.