Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Bellingham vs Suffield vs Thomaston
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).
Bellingham has the most expensive homes ($451k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Bellingham | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
17,410Highest |
15,702 |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellingham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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 about the U.S. average |
$125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Bellingham 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 | #232 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Bellingham | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Bellingham High School | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
10.9 |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.