Compare towns
Salem vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Suffield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
15,702Highest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Suffield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | 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 |
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.