Compare towns
Sterling vs Windsor Locks vs Windsor Locks vs Voluntown
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).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 Locks | Windsor Locks | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
12,579Highest |
12,579Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Sterling and Voluntown 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.