Compare towns
Bellingham vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Bellingham | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,325Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Bellingham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $96,763±$14k 20% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 44% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham 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 | #232 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.