What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.

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

Measure	North Reading	Windsor
People
Population	15,765Lowest	29,468Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S.
	Windsor 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Reading and Windsor 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%	20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windsor and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor and North Reading 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.	$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.	$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.	$1,681±$62Lowest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.	$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Windsor 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%	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#117 of 149 in CT
School district	North Reading	Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District
High school in town	North Reading High	Windsor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.2Highest
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.