Compare towns
Monroe vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Monroe | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
12,579Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.