Compare towns
Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the highest household income ($98k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Chaplin | Plainfield | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
12,579 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Highest 32% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
9.5 |
8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.