What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most expensive homes ($376k 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.

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

Measure	Northfield	Windsor Locks
People
Population	2,872Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield 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+	42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor Locks and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	Northfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor Locks and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Pioneer Valley	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	8.9Lowest
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.