What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most expensive homes ($396k 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.

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

Measure	Shirley	Windsor Locks
People
Population	1,146Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.2±14.6Highest 14% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Shirley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley 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	$108,494±$62kHighest 34% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
	Shirley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,800±$50kHighest 19% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average
	Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,398Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley 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	#239 of 282 in MA	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Windsor Locks School District
High school 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.