Compare towns
Devens vs Thomaston vs Windsor Locks vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Shirley has the most renters (36.8% rent).
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 | Devens | Thomaston | Windsor Locks | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
7,492 |
12,579Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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 | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,494±$62k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147 27% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Devens and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Shirley 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 | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.