Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Exeter vs Thomaston vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Exeter | Thomaston | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
7,195Lowest |
7,492 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 22% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.