Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Spencer vs Windsor

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).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Windsor has the highest household income ($105k).

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 LocksSpencerWindsor
People
Population
12,579
12,008Lowest
29,468Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
48.9±6.8Highest
26% above U.S.
43.7±1.9
12% above U.S.
Spencer and Windsor 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%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor 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%
26%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Spencer and Windsor 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%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$80,533±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
$104,725±$8kHighest
30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$382,000±$22kHighest
15% above U.S.
$305,200±$11k
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,078±$161Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,681±$62Highest
19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,387
41% above U.S.
$5,351Highest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.9%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Spencer 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
63%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Windsor 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 #261 of 282 in MA #117 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Spencer-E Brookfield Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School David Prouty High Windsor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
9.9
10.2Highest
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.