What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).

Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Windsor Locks
People
Population	63,266Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 10% below U.S.	41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windsor Locks and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kHighest 76% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 275% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 101% above U.S.	$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Brookline	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	Brookline High	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.