Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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.
| Measure | Windsor Locks | Sterling | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
8,183Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
| Sterling 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett | 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.