Compare towns
Windsor vs Dalton vs Plainfield 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).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Dalton | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
6,256Highest |
616Lowest |
796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 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% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
| Montgomery and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Windsor and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% 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 | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | 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.