Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks 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
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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.
| Measure | Windsor Locks | Sterling | Windsor Locks | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579Highest |
8,183 |
12,579Highest |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Thomaston 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett | — | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | — | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | — | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.