Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs North Reading vs Thomaston
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 | Windsor Locks | North Reading | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
15,765Highest |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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+ | 28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 149 in CT | #33 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | North Reading | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | — | North Reading High | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.