Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Stoneham 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).

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.

MeasureWindsor LocksStonehamThomaston
People
Population
12,579
23,355Highest
7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Highest
8% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
Stoneham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Thomaston 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%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham 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%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4Lowest
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
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$103,218±$15k
28% above U.S.
Stoneham 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.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$282,600±$23k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1964Highest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham 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 #117 of 282 in MA #106 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Stoneham Thomaston School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School Stoneham High Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
10.7Highest
10.7Highest
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.