Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Salem vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Beacon Falls | Salem | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147 |
4,282Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Salem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Salem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Salem 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Salem School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.