Compare towns
North Reading vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Highest |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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+ | 56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$13k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Reading | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.