Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Brookline vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Windham | Reading | Brookline | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
25,612Highest |
531Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Townshend 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Reading | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.