Compare towns
Harvard vs Killingly vs Shirley 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
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Harvard | Killingly | Shirley | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
17,867Highest |
6,976 |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Shirley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.