Compare towns
Sterling vs Windsor vs Windsor Locks vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Sterling | Windsor | Windsor Locks | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
29,468Highest |
12,579 |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$5,351 72% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Windsor Locks School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.