Compare towns
Westford vs Windsor Locks vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Carlisle has the most expensive homes ($1104k 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 | Westford | Windsor Locks | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,690Highest |
12,579 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.2 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle 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+ | 73.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $187,198±$10k 132% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,695 211% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Windsor Locks School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Westford Academy | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
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.