Compare towns
Northbridge vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
12,579 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Brooklyn 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Brooklyn 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| 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.