Compare towns
Killingly vs Crystal Lake vs Plainfield 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
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Killingly | Crystal Lake | Plainfield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
2,024Lowest |
15,141 |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake 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 | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Crystal Lake 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | — | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.