What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Windsor
People
Population	16,458Lowest	29,468Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±1.9Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Windsor 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Windsor 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%	20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windsor and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor 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±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.	$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Windsor 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.	$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.	$5,351Highest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge and Windsor 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	#117 of 149 in CT
School district	Northbridge	Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District
High school in town	Northbridge High	Windsor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.