What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k median).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.

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

Measure	Windsor	Reading
People
Population	29,468Highest	25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.9 12% above U.S.	43.7±2.3 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S.	$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S.	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,681±$62Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.
	Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S.	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4% U.S.: 65.2%	82.4% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 149 in CT	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District	Reading
High school in town	Windsor High School	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	12.1Highest
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.