Compare towns
Salem vs Washington vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret
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 highest household income ($123k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Windsor Locks | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282 |
3,676Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,317 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
| Washington and Pomfret 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
| Salem and Pomfret 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,903 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Regional School District 12 | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.