Compare towns

Windsor vs Rowley vs Cheshire

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%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

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.

MeasureWindsorRowleyCheshire
People
Population
1,065Lowest
6,251Highest
3,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.8±6.4Lowest
12% above MA
50±6.3
25% above MA
53.7±4.5Highest
34% above MA
Cheshire and Rowley 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%
19.3%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±4.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Rowley and Windsor 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%
21.6%±4.1
MA: 17.9%
30.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Cheshire and Rowley 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%
56.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cheshire and Rowley 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
$132,734±$32kHighest
28% above MA
$69,803±$14kLowest
33% below MA
Rowley 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
$667,300±$52kHighest
19% above MA
$268,200±$48kLowest
52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,603±$520
9% below MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,867
35% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$3,005Lowest
50% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
21.2%±24
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
27% above MA
28 minLowest
3% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
21.2%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
4.4%±2.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #214 of 282 in MA #274 of 282 in MA
School district — Triton Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town — None in town Hoosac Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.