Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most expensive homes ($350k median).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Beacon Falls | Plainville | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
17,551Highest |
12,579 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 | $101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.