Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Athol vs Suffield
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 Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Athol | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
12,011Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13k about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Athol-Royalston | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Athol High | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.