Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Reading vs Wolcott

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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).

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.

MeasureWindsor LocksReadingWolcott
People
Population
12,579Lowest
25,612Highest
16,279
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
44.4±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Wolcott and Reading 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%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Wolcott 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%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Wolcott 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%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Wolcott 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
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$110,850±$10k
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$326,200±$17k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,464±$913
4% above U.S.
Reading and Wolcott 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.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$5,799
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.8%±24.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Wolcott 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 149 in CT #50 of 282 in MA #76 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Reading Wolcott School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School Reading Memorial High Wolcott High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
12.1Highest
10.1
On TownTapestry
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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.