Compare towns
Ashby vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks 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 | Ashby | Sterling | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
3,629 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Windsor Locks 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sterling School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.