Compare towns
Topsfield vs Windsor vs Windsor Locks vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Topsfield | Windsor | Windsor Locks | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
29,468Highest |
12,579 |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Stow and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,681±$62 19% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Stow and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,351 72% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #117 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Windsor Locks School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Highest |
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.