Compare towns
Clinton vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Clinton | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
15,141 |
12,579 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 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+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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 | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
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.