Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Berlin | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
20,361Highest |
15,702 |
7,492Lowest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Berlin 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% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin 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% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Berlin 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 |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Suffield and Berlin 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 |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Suffield and Berlin 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 |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin 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 CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Berlin School District | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Berlin High School | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
10.9 |
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.