Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Bethlehem 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 people working from home (17.7%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k 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 | Bethlehem | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
3,423Lowest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Bethlehem 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 15% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bethlehem 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 |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 14 | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.