Compare towns
Windsor vs Everett vs Cheshire 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 most people working from home (21.2%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Montgomery has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Everett | Cheshire | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
50,045Highest |
3,216 |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Cheshire and Montgomery 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
38.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Cheshire 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% 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±$32k 31% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Everett | Hoosac Valley Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Hoosac Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.