Compare towns
Brookfield vs Thomaston 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
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
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 | Brookfield | Thomaston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
7,492Lowest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Brookfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
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.