Compare towns

Suffield vs Windsor Locks vs North 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

Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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.

MeasureSuffieldWindsor LocksNorth Reading
People
Population
15,702
12,579Lowest
15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±1.7Highest
14% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
43±2.8
11% above U.S.
Suffield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
North Reading and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Suffield 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+
40.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
56.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$119,472±$13k
48% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$147,768±$25kHighest
83% above U.S.
North Reading and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,500±$26k
22% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$710,500±$24kHighest
114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,424±$141
about the U.S. average
$1,394±$187Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,259±$356Highest
60% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,456
107% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$9,693Highest
211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
75.5%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
North Reading and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
18.4%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.1%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Reading and Suffield 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 #57 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #33 of 282 in MA
School district Suffield School District Windsor Locks School District North Reading
High school in town Suffield High School Windsor Locks High School North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
8.9Lowest
10.1
On TownTapestry
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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.