Compare towns
Windsor vs Chester vs Windsor Locks vs Southington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Chester | Windsor Locks | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,468 |
3,825Lowest |
12,579 |
43,803Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
45±1.4 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Southington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Southington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$373,800±$10k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,472±$77 about the CT average |
| Windsor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351 19% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,206 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chester School District | Windsor Locks School District | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.