Compare towns

Smithfield vs Thomaston vs Windsor Locks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldThomastonWindsor Locks
People
Population
22,233Highest
7,492Lowest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
41.8±2.6Highest
7% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
Smithfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$103,218±$15kHighest
28% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
Thomaston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$282,600±$23k
15% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,037±$147
27% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$5,915Highest
90% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI #106 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Smithfield Thomaston School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Smithfield High School Thomaston High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
10.7
8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.