Compare towns
Hardwick vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Hardwick | Suffield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
15,702Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 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±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.