Compare towns
Windsor vs Natick 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
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Natick | Plainfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
36,873Highest |
616Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Dalton 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% |
20.4%±1.9 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Natick 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 |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Natick 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Natick 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Natick | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Natick High | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.