Compare towns
Windsor vs Worcester vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($116k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.3%).
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 | Worcester | Plainfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
831 |
616Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
50.6±9.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,458Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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.