Compare towns
Townsend vs Brooklyn vs Windsor Locks vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Townsend | Brooklyn | Windsor Locks | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
8,517Lowest |
12,579Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brooklyn School District | Windsor Locks School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 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.