Compare towns
Brookfield vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Pomfret | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,317 |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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 | $81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.