Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Killingly vs Pepperell 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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Killingly | Pepperell | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
17,867Highest |
11,663 |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Pepperell 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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 |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 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.