Compare towns
Prospect vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k 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 | Prospect | Sterling | Windsor Locks | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
3,629Lowest |
12,579 |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
— | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Sterling School District | Windsor Locks School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.