Compare towns

Columbia vs Brooklyn 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

Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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.

MeasureColumbiaBrooklynWindsor Locks
People
Population
5,300Lowest
8,517
12,579Highest
Median age
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
Columbia and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.7%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Columbia 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+
34.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
Columbia and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,500±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,228Highest
21% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.1%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
Columbia 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 #114 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Columbia School District Brooklyn School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town None in town None in town Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.9
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.