What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most expensive homes ($358k median).

Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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	Hampden	Windsor Locks
People
Population	4,946Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor Locks and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hampden and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,181Highest 98% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#199 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	None in town	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
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.