Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Fairhaven vs Thomaston

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 people working from home (17.7%).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k 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.

MeasureWindsor LocksFairhavenThomaston
People
Population
12,579
15,903Highest
7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
48.5±3.4Highest
25% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
Fairhaven 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
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairhaven 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
U.S.: 35.7%
32.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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
about the U.S. average
$95,965±$19k
19% above U.S.
$103,218±$15kHighest
28% above U.S.
Thomaston and Fairhaven 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.
$446,700±$19kHighest
34% above U.S.
$282,600±$23k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,118±$79
21% below U.S.
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,688
18% above U.S.
$3,566Lowest
14% above U.S.
$5,915Highest
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.1%±14Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Highest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1961Highest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Fairhaven 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 #126 of 282 in MA #106 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Fairhaven Thomaston School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School Fairhaven High Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.4Highest
10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.