Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Waterford vs Suffield
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 most affordable homes ($259k median).
Waterford has the oldest population (median age 46).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
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 | Waterford | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
19,673Highest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
46±2.4Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Waterford 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% |
19.1%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Waterford 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 CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Waterford 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Waterford 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 |
$104,820±$9k 9% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Waterford 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 |
$355,900±$14k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Waterford and Suffield 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 |
$4,876 27% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #80 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Learn · Waterford School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Waterford High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.