Compare towns
Hanover vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | Hanover | Windsor Locks | Brooklyn | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845 |
12,579 |
8,517Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 200% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Hanover 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.