Compare towns
North Reading vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | North Reading | Suffield | Windsor Locks | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
15,702 |
12,579Lowest |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Suffield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Holden and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holden and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$141,923±$11k 76% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,648±$214 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,359 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Suffield 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
10.9 |
8.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.