Compare towns
Windsor vs Dudley vs Plainfield vs Dalton
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 highest household income ($116k).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Dudley | Plainfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
11,929Highest |
616Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Dudley and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Plainfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.