Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Washington vs Suffield vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Washington | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
3,676Lowest |
15,702Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Washington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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 CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks 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 15% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Suffield 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 29% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Suffield 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 44% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 12 | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Shepaug Valley School | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.1 |
10.9Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.