Compare towns
Townsend vs Windsor Locks vs Pepperell 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Windsor Locks | Pepperell | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
12,579Highest |
11,663 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windsor Locks School District | North Middlesex | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | 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.