Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Shirley vs Suffield
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).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Shirley | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
6,976Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Suffield 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% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Suffield 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. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
| Shirley and Suffield 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. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Suffield 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.