Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Mansfield vs Windsor vs Thomaston

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 most affordable homes ($259k median).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureWindsor LocksMansfieldWindsorThomaston
People
Population
12,579
25,358
29,468Highest
7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
CT: +0.9%
— — —
Median age
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
21.2±0.2Lowest
48% below CT
43.7±1.9Highest
6% above CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
Windsor and Thomaston 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%
9.2%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.2%±2.1
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Windsor 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%
11%±1.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20%±2Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 18.5%
Windsor 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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
57.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
43.2%
CT: 42.5%
34%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
57%±2.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.3
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
$72,393±$12kLowest
24% below CT
$104,725±$8kHighest
9% above CT
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
Windsor 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±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$335,400±$20kHighest
9% below CT
$305,200±$11k
17% below CT
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
Mansfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,602±$104
8% above CT
$1,681±$62Highest
13% above CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
Windsor and Mansfield 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
$5,727
14% below CT
$5,351
19% below CT
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8
CT: 52.6%
76%±9.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22
CT: 52.6%
Mansfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
CT: 10%
21.6%Highest
CT: 10%
6.7%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
57.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below CT
21 minLowest
22% below CT
21 min
19% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
28.3%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
16.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 149 in CT #45 of 149 in CT #117 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT
School district — Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District Thomaston School District
High school in town — E. O. Smith High School Windsor High School Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.8Highest
10.2Lowest
10.7
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.