Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Foster vs Suffield 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Foster | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
4,523Lowest |
15,702Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield 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% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Foster 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% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston and Foster 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 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 |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Foster 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. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield 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. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Foster | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.