Compare towns
Scituate vs Windsor Locks 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
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Scituate | Windsor Locks | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,365 |
12,579Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.1Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,732±$16k 69% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $847,600±$25kHighest 155% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$311 14% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Reading and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,807 182% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Scituate 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Scituate | Windsor Locks School District | Reading |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Windsor Locks High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.