Compare towns
Windsor vs Erving vs Dalton vs Cheshire
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 most people working from home (21.2%).
Erving has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Cheshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Erving | Dalton | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
1,703 |
6,256Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Erving 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,005 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
| Erving 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Dalton 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 | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Erving | Central Berkshire | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.