Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Saugus 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 people working from home (17.7%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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.

MeasureWindsor LocksSaugusThomaston
People
Population
12,579
28,773Highest
7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
Saugus and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±2Lowest
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%
22%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Saugus 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%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
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
$101,539±$3k
26% above U.S.
$103,218±$15kHighest
28% above U.S.
Thomaston and Saugus 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.
$603,400±$13kHighest
81% above U.S.
$282,600±$23k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$2,241±$201Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,049Highest
94% above U.S.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53%±9.2Lowest
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%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1962Highest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Saugus 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 #194 of 282 in MA #106 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Saugus Thomaston School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School Saugus High Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
15.5Highest
10.7
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.