Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Chaplin vs Thomaston vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 Locks | Chaplin | Thomaston | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
2,070Lowest |
7,492 |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Chaplin 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Thomaston School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Thomaston High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.7 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.