Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Hatfield 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 most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).
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 | Hatfield | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
3,325Lowest |
15,702Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Hatfield 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 |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 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 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Hatfield | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Smith Academy | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
6.1Lowest |
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.