Compare towns
Columbia vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Columbia | Washington | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,676Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Columbia and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
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.