Compare towns
Windsor vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dover | Dalton | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
5,930 |
6,256Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Montgomery 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% |
84.8%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% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.