Compare towns
Windham vs Dalton vs Worcester vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Windham | Dalton | Worcester | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
6,256Highest |
831 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Windham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Windham and Grafton 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.