Compare towns
Charlton 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
Charlton has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Charlton | Windsor Locks | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435 |
12,579Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43±4Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Charlton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton 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 | $117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Charlton 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.