What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Providence has the most expensive homes ($356k median).

Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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 Providence	Windsor Locks
People
Population	34,293Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.1±1.9Highest 8% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	North Providence and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Providence 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+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Providence and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,756±$6kHighest 4% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	North Providence and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,900±$12kHighest 7% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average	$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average
	North Providence and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 55% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor Locks and North Providence 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	#26 of 38 in RI	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	North Providence High	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	8.9Lowest
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.