Compare towns
Canton vs Columbia 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
Canton has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Canton | Columbia | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
5,300Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Canton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Canton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Columbia 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Columbia School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 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.