Compare towns

Killingly vs Windsor Locks vs Wakefield vs Plainville

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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.

MeasureKillinglyWindsor LocksWakefieldPlainville
People
Population
17,867
12,579Lowest
27,793Highest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Wakefield 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%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield 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%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville 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
4% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$258,800±$14k
22% below U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Wakefield 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%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #179 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Windsor Locks School District Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Windsor Locks High School Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
8.9Lowest
10.7
11.4Highest
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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.