Compare towns
Suffield vs Chelmsford 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
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Chelmsford has the most expensive homes ($594k 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.
| Measure | Suffield | Chelmsford | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
36,446Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chelmsford and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 107% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #79 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Chelmsford | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Chelmsford High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
14.0Highest |
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.