Compare towns
Windsor vs Sutton vs Cheshire vs Dalton
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 homeowners (96.2%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Sutton | Cheshire | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
9,452Highest |
3,216 |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Cheshire and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
— | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Sutton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 35% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Windsor 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Hoosac Valley Regional | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Hoosac Valley High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.5Lowest |
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.