Compare towns
Northbridge vs Windsor vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Northbridge | Windsor | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
29,468Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11k 8% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,351Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Windsor 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #117 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Windsor High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.