Compare towns
Reading vs Wakefield vs Windsor vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Wakefield | Windsor | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
27,793 |
29,468Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,681±$62Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | Windsor High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.