Compare towns
Crystal Lake vs Windsor Locks vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal Lake has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Crystal Lake | Windsor Locks | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,024Lowest |
12,579 |
14,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake 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+ | 45.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,800±$35k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$365,500±$21kHighest about the CT average |
| Tolland and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
| Tolland and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,146 8% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±10Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.