Compare towns
Webster vs Athol vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Webster | Athol | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,011Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Webster | Athol-Royalston | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Athol High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.