Compare towns
Northborough vs Windham vs Longmeadow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northborough has the most renters (16.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Longmeadow has the most affordable homes ($454k 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.
| Measure | Northborough | Windham | Longmeadow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750 |
16,038Highest |
15,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±1.7 15% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Longmeadow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$149,601±$24kLowest 85% above U.S. |
| Windham and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$454,100±$20kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,682±$423Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,983Lowest 156% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,236 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Longmeadow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Longmeadow and Northborough 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 | #35 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #51 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Windham School District | Longmeadow |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | Windham High School | Longmeadow High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.