Compare towns
Sterling vs Webster 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
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Sterling | Webster | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
17,748Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wachusett | Webster | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
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.