Compare towns

Reading 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

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.

MeasureReadingWindsorReading
People
Population
25,612Lowest
29,468Highest
25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
43.7±1.9
12% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.8%±2.2Highest
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%
20%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
66.3%Highest
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%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% 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.
$305,200±$11kLowest
8% below U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,681±$62Lowest
19% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,320Highest
199% 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%
44.9%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor and Reading 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%
6.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
30.2%±4.1Highest
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 #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
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On TownTapestry
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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.