Compare towns
Salem vs Woonsocket 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
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Salem | Woonsocket | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
43,521Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest 114% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
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.