Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Hampton vs Sterling 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Hampton | Sterling | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Hampton and Suffield 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
— | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Hampton 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.