Compare towns

Willimantic vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks vs Groton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 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.

MeasureWillimanticSuffieldWindsor LocksGroton
People
Population
18,096Highest
15,702
12,579
9,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
— —
-9.6%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
39±3.7
5% below CT
Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±3.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
38.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
$79,577±$8k
17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$306,600±$26k
16% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,250±$98
16% below CT
Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678
30% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$4,411
34% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
46.5%±11.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
18.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
45.4%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
22 min
17% below CT
18 minLowest
34% below CT
Work from home
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
4.8%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 — #57 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT —
School district — Suffield School District Windsor Locks School District —
High school in town — Suffield High School Windsor Locks High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9Highest
8.9Lowest
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On TownTapestry
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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.