Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Bethel 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Bethel has the most expensive homes ($435k median).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
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 | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
20,796Highest |
7,492Lowest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
42.8±2.6Highest 4% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Bethel and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston 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% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest 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±$7kHighest 22% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Bethel 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 |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Bethel and Windsor Locks 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 |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel 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 | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Bethel School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Bethel High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.