Compare towns
Windsor vs Wakefield 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
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wakefield | Plainfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
27,793Highest |
616Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Wakefield 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% |
19%±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% |
59.7%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% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Wakefield 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 |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.