Compare towns

Berlin vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most expensive homes ($375k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBerlinWindsor LocksPlainville
People
Population
20,361Highest
12,579Lowest
17,551
Median age
48.7±3Highest
18% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Berlin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Berlin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,598±$11kHighest
19% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$374,600±$13kHighest
about the CT average
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$88Highest
6% below CT
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
Berlin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,291Highest
10% above CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$4,798
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.4%±11.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Berlin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below CT
22 minHighest
17% below CT
21 min
20% below CT
Work from home
14.4%±4.6
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Berlin 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 #73 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Berlin School District Windsor Locks School District Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Berlin High School Windsor Locks High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
8.9Lowest
11.4
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.