Compare towns
Northbridge vs Thomaston 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 expensive homes ($449k median).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Thomaston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
7,492Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 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 | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.7 |
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.