Compare towns

Bristol vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureBristolWindsor LocksPlainfield
People
Population
22,220Highest
12,579Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43±2.2Highest
11% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Bristol and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.9%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Highest
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+
22.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bristol 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+
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
18.6%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,764±$8kHighest
21% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Bristol and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,000±$25kHighest
46% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,579±$118Highest
12% above U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
Bristol and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,393Highest
73% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.2%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 38 in RI #109 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Bristol Warren Windsor Locks School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Mt. Hope High School Windsor Locks High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
8.9Lowest
10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.