Compare towns
Saugus vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret vs Northbridge
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Pomfret | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
12,579 |
4,317Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Saugus 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Northbridge 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Pomfret 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 10.8 |
| 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.