Compare towns
Spencer vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Paxton has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Spencer | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
9,292 |
12,579Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.