Compare towns
Bethel vs Suffield 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
Bethel has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Bethel | Suffield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
15,702 |
12,579Lowest |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Suffield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield 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+ | 45.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,541±$7k 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Suffield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Bethel and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Bethel and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 23% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #100 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.9 |
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.