Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs West Haven vs Suffield 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).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | West Haven | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
55,351Highest |
15,702 |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Suffield 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% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and West Haven 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% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston and Suffield 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% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% 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±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| West Haven 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 |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 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% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 14% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | — | West Haven High School | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.6Highest |
10.9 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.