Compare towns
Windsor vs Ayer 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
Windsor has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
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 | Windsor | Ayer | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,468Highest |
8,645Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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+ | 43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351Highest 72% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.