What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 Locks
People
Population	15,765Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	North Reading and Windsor Locks 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%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Reading and Windsor Locks 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%	18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windsor Locks 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%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor Locks 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.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.	$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Lowest 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%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	North Reading	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	North Reading High	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	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.