Compare towns
Ellington vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Ellington | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455 |
12,579Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.