Compare towns
Bellingham vs Windsor Locks vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
North Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Bellingham | Windsor Locks | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,325 |
12,579Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| North Brookfield and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Brookfield and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,763±$14kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Bellingham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham 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 | #232 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.