Compare towns
Washington vs Columbia 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
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Washington | Columbia | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
5,300 |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Columbia and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Columbia School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Highest |
— | 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.