Compare towns
Saugus vs Thomaston 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
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Saugus | Thomaston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
7,492Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Thomaston and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Saugus | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
10.7 |
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.