Compare towns
Danielson vs Ayer vs Windsor Locks vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($445k median).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Willington has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Danielson | Ayer | Windsor Locks | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209 |
3,098Lowest |
12,579Highest |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
42.1±6.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37.5±7.2 4% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington 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+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Willington and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$91,114±$12kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Willington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$305,800±$48k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,357±$116 4% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 29% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,419Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Windsor Locks School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Windsor Locks High School | 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.