Compare towns
Bristol 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
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Bristol | Suffield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,702 |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest 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+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.9 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.

