Compare towns
Thomaston vs Windsor vs Chaplin vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Windsor | Chaplin | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
29,468Highest |
2,070Lowest |
11,511 |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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 8% above CT |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Windsor and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$305,200±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Windsor and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Windsor and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Windsor High School | Parish Hill High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.2 |
7.5Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.