What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).

Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Brookfield	Windsor Locks
People
Population	4,760Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	North Brookfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Brookfield 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+	26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor Locks and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Highest 34% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor Locks and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	North Brookfield	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	8.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.