Compare towns
Springfield vs Preston vs Windsor Locks vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Springfield | Preston | Windsor Locks | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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+ | 20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,144±$68Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 18% above U.S. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.