Compare towns
Thompson vs Spencer 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
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Thompson | Spencer | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
12,008 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | David Prouty High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.9Highest |
8.9 |
| 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.