Compare towns
Bristol vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Thompson | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,337Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Thompson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
7.9Lowest |
8.9 |
| 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.