Compare towns
Bridgeport vs Windsor Locks vs Stratford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgeport has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratford has the most expensive homes ($372k 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 | Bridgeport | Windsor Locks | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 149,153Highest |
12,579Lowest |
52,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bridgeport and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stratford 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+ | 23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
37.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgeport 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 | $58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$95,815±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Stratford and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$9k 25% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$372,200±$8kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,450±$35 about the CT average |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,706±$75Highest 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,496 about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,420Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1958 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Stratford 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 | #148 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #134 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District | Windsor Locks School District | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Central High School | Windsor Locks High School | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
13.9 |
| 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.