Compare towns
Windsor vs Worcester vs Dalton vs Montgomery
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Montgomery has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Dalton | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
207,055Highest |
6,256 |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Montgomery 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
| Montgomery 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±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Windsor and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Lowest 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.