Compare towns
Windsor vs Peru vs Dalton vs Oakham
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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Oakham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Peru | Dalton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
630Lowest |
6,256Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Peru 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% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Oakham 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru 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% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Peru 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 |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Oakham 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 |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Central Berkshire | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| 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.