Compare towns
Hardwick vs Killingly vs Windsor Locks vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Hardwick | Killingly | Windsor Locks | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
17,867Highest |
12,579 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 | $75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ware 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Windsor Locks School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Windsor Locks High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.