Compare towns
Windsor vs Townsend vs Oakham vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Montgomery has the most affordable homes ($358k 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 | Townsend | Oakham | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065 |
9,100Highest |
1,639 |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Montgomery and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
38.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
| Montgomery and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$357,500±$29kLowest 36% below MA |
| Townsend and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— |
| Townsend and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 minLowest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.