Compare towns
Webster vs Spencer 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 kids (19.6% under 18).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Spencer | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,008Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Webster 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% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest 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±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Webster 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. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% 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 | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Webster | Spencer-E Brookfield | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | David Prouty High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.9 |
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.