Compare towns
Westford vs Windsor Locks vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Sharon has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,690Highest |
12,579Lowest |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.2Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
| Westford and Sharon 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% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Sharon 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% |
76.7%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% |
5%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,500±$32kHighest 125% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$737,100±$33k 122% above U.S. |
| Westford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,310±$345 63% above U.S. |
| Westford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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%±8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Westford 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 | #20 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Windsor Locks School District | Sharon |
| High school in town | Westford Academy | Windsor Locks High School | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.