Compare towns
Foster vs Windsor Locks vs Killingly vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Charlestown has the most expensive homes ($526k 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.
| Measure | Foster | Windsor Locks | Killingly | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523Lowest |
12,579 |
17,867Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown 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 | $113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlestown and Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.