What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nelson	Windsor Locks
People
Population	648Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Nelson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	Nelson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Nelson School District	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.