Compare towns
Webster vs Northbridge vs Windsor Locks vs Whitman
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 renters (40.2% rent).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Webster | Northbridge | Windsor Locks | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
16,458 |
12,579Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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+ | 25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 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±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Northbridge | Windsor Locks School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Northbridge High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.8 |
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.