Compare towns
Killingly vs Melrose 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
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Killingly | Melrose | Windsor Locks | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
29,650Highest |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Melrose 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 4% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #62 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Melrose | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Melrose High | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.