Compare towns
Windsor vs Chilmark vs Dalton vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 44.8).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Montgomery has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Chilmark | Dalton | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
1,578 |
6,256Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
38.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Montgomery and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
| Chilmark and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Chilmark and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,485Highest 25% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montgomery and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Windsor 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 | — | Up-Island Regional | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.