Compare towns
Blackstone vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Blackstone | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
15,141 |
12,579 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone 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+ | 31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 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 | $94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% 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 | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.