Compare towns
Becket vs Townsend 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
Becket has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Becket | Townsend | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
9,100 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Becket 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+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Becket 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Central Berkshire | North Middlesex | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.