Compare towns
Suffield vs Shelton 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
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k 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 | Shelton | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
41,889Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Suffield and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #71 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Shelton School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Shelton High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
14.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.