Compare towns
Lyme vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Lyme | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,303 |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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 | $135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Lyme and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Bridgewater 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.