Compare towns
Northbridge vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | Northbridge | Lancaster | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,606Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.