Compare towns
Madison vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Madison Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k median).
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 | Madison | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Madison Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
15,141 |
12,579 |
1,981Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
35.5%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±5.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$178,194±$59kHighest 86% above CT |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,914±$1k 29% above CT |
| Madison and Madison Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843 33% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.6%±16.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
27.2%±10.1 CT: 16% |
| Madison and Madison Center 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 | #7 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.3Highest |
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.