Compare towns

Montgomery vs Reading vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

MeasureMontgomeryReadingWindsor
People
Population
796Lowest
25,612Highest
1,065
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±5.8Highest
24% above MA
43.7±2.3Lowest
9% above MA
44.8±6.4
12% above MA
Montgomery and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±5.8
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.8%±5.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Reading and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.9%±7Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
18.6%±4.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.7
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$123,000±$19k
18% above MA
$165,912±$13kHighest
60% above MA
$115,563±$10kLowest
11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$357,500±$29kLowest
36% below MA
$809,000±$22kHighest
44% above MA
$389,700±$32k
31% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,991±$273
13% above MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,283
29% below MA
$9,320Highest
56% above MA
$3,867Lowest
35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
3.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
96.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
23% above MA
31 minLowest
6% above MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
Work from home
9.4%±6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
30.2%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±5.8
MA: 18.6%
Reading and Windsor 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 — #50 of 282 in MA —
School district — Reading —
High school in town — Reading Memorial High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.