Compare towns
Windsor vs Reading vs Hartford
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Hartford has the most renters (74.3% rent).
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 | Reading | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,468 |
25,612Lowest |
121,127Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.1±0.6Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±1.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$46,411±$3kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$228,600±$8kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62 19% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,269±$25Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351 72% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,603Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #146 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Reading | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Judicial Centers |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | Reading Memorial High | Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.1 |
15.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.