What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dartmouth has the most expensive homes ($497k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dartmouth	Windsor Locks
People
Population	33,328Highest	12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.5±2Highest 9% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Dartmouth and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dartmouth 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+	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,839±$8kHighest 24% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	Dartmouth and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$496,500±$20kHighest 49% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$159Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average
	Dartmouth and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,263Highest 37% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windsor Locks and Dartmouth 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	#115 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Dartmouth	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	Dartmouth High	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.