Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Bethel vs Suffield
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).
Bethel has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Bethel | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
20,796Highest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Bethel 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% |
20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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% |
45.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel 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 |
$116,541±$7k 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Bethel 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 |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Bethel and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Bethel 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 |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel 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% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest 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 | #100 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Bethel School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Bethel High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.