What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).

Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Brookfield	Windsor Locks
People
Population	3,859Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	West Brookfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$271Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,260Highest 37% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 58% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Brookfield and Windsor Locks 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	#162 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Quaboag Regional	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	None in town	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.