Compare towns
Brookfield vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Brookfield | Plainville | Windsor Locks | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
17,551Highest |
12,579 |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.