Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Hardwick vs Suffield
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).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Hardwick | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
2,684Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Suffield 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% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$13k about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield 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 18% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.