Compare towns

Burlington vs Windsor Locks vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureBurlingtonWindsor LocksWakefield
People
Population
26,274
12,579Lowest
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.2Highest
18% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,436±$14kHighest
81% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$740,600±$35kHighest
123% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
$1,394±$187Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,165
98% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wakefield and Burlington 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 #83 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #179 of 282 in MA
School district Burlington Windsor Locks School District Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Burlington High Windsor Locks High School Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
8.9Lowest
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.