Compare towns
Thomaston vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks vs Somers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Somers has the most homeowners (87.6%).
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 | Thomaston | Lancaster | Windsor Locks | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492Lowest |
8,606 |
12,579Highest |
10,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somers and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$395,800±$21k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,184±$346 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 90% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District | Somers School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 8.9 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.