Compare towns
Ashford vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Ashford | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
— |
| Windsor Locks and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.