Compare towns
West Windsor vs Colrain vs Reading vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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.
| Measure | West Windsor | Colrain | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
1,627Highest |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860 88% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Mohawk Trail | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.