Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Chester vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Chester | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
3,825Lowest |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Chester and Windsor Locks 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 |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Chester 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 |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Chester School District | — |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.