Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Hardwick vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Windham | Hardwick | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
594Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | — | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Quabbin | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.