Compare towns
Needham vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Needham | Windsor Locks | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
12,579 |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Needham | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
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.