Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Hampton vs Southwick 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Southwick has the most expensive homes ($398k 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 | Hampton | Southwick | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
1,647Lowest |
9,217 |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8 20% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Southwick 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Southwick 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 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 |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$397,500±$27kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Southwick 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #211 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Hampton School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Southwick Regional School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
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.