Compare towns
Waterford vs Windsor Locks vs Niantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has the highest household income ($105k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Niantic has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Waterford | Windsor Locks | Niantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,673Highest |
12,579 |
3,123Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46±2.4 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±5.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Waterford and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$81,250±$16k 15% below CT |
| Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$14k about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$396,000±$38kHighest 8% above CT |
| Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,478±$259 about the CT average |
| Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,876 27% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,311Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.8%±12.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Niantic and Windsor Locks 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 | #80 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Learn · Waterford School District | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Waterford High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
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.