Compare towns

Windham vs Sterling 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

Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureWindhamSterlingWindsor Locks
People
Population
23,961Highest
3,629Lowest
12,579
Median age
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
41.4±2.6Highest
about the CT average
Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.3%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Windsor Locks and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
Sterling and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$283,400±$17kHighest
23% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
Sterling and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
—
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Highest
30% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Sterling 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 #143 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
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.