Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Windsor Locks vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Reading | Reading | Windsor Locks | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
12,579Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | — | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | — | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.