Compare towns
Thomaston vs Wakefield vs Windsor Locks vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Wakefield | Windsor Locks | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
27,793Highest |
12,579 |
4,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield and Ashford 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Ashford 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 90% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Ashford 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Windsor Locks School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.