Compare towns

Johnston vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureJohnstonPlainvilleWindsor Locks
People
Population
29,835Highest
17,551
12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
Johnston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor Locks and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Plainville 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,866±$6kHighest
14% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
Johnston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,500±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$258,800±$14k
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
$1,126±$147Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,614
48% above U.S.
$4,798Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 38 in RI #89 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Johnston Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Johnston Senior High Plainville High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
11.4Highest
8.9Lowest
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.