Compare towns

Barre vs Hardwick vs Killingly vs Windsor Locks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureBarreHardwickKillinglyWindsor Locks
People
Population
5,572
2,684Lowest
17,867Highest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.8±8.5
13% above U.S.
45.3±9.8Highest
16% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±5.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,727±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
$75,000±$22kLowest
7% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55kHighest
19% above U.S.
$346,700±$67k
4% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,108±$119
22% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,400
41% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±13.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Barre 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 #134 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Quabbin Quabbin Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School None in town Killingly High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
11.1
8.9Lowest
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.