Compare towns
Durham vs Thomaston vs Windsor Locks vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Durham | Thomaston | Windsor Locks | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
7,492 |
12,579Highest |
6,130Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,397 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
9.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.