Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend 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
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Pepperell | Townsend | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Windsor Locks 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.