Compare towns
Townsend vs Windsor vs Middlesex
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 expensive homes ($433k median).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
3,554 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Townsend 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex 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. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.