Compare towns
Windsor vs Webster vs Oakham vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Webster | Oakham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
2,227 |
1,639 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Webster 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 43% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Webster and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Webster 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 | — | Merrimack Valley School District | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.