Compare towns
Northbridge vs Saugus 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).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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.
| Measure | Northbridge | Saugus | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
28,773Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge and Saugus 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. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Saugus | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Saugus High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
15.5Highest |
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.