Compare towns
Harvard vs Paxton vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Paxton has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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.
| Measure | Harvard | Paxton | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
5,002Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Paxton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Harvard | Wachusett | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.