Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Lancaster vs Sutton 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
8,606 |
9,452 |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Sutton 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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 |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Nashoba | Sutton | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
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.