Compare towns
Townsend vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks vs Brookline
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Plainville | Windsor Locks | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
17,551Highest |
12,579 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$4,798 54% 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 | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.