Compare towns
Windsor vs Needham 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Dalton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
32,459Highest |
6,256 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%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±1.6Lowest 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dalton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr 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 |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school 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.