Compare towns
Windsor vs Lancaster vs Dalton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Lancaster | Dalton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
8,606Highest |
6,256 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
| Lancaster and Plainfield 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Plainfield 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.