Compare towns
Meriden vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Southington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Meriden | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
43,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Southington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Southington 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 | $71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
| Southington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,206Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Southington 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
12.8 |
| 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.