Compare towns
Sterling vs Hampton 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
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sterling | Hampton | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,647Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Hampton School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.