Compare towns
Chelmsford vs Windsor Locks vs Billerica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Billerica has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Chelmsford | Windsor Locks | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,446 |
12,579Lowest |
42,003Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.3±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelmsford and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,629±$8k 74% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$148,200±$8kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$612,000±$13kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,358 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.3%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford and Billerica 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 | #79 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelmsford | Windsor Locks School District | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Chelmsford High | Windsor Locks High School | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
8.9Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.