Compare towns

Norwich vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.

MeasureNorwichWindsor LocksPlainfield
People
Population
39,973Highest
12,579Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+0.9%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
41.4±2.6Highest
about the CT average
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.1%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,024±$5kLowest
32% below CT
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$11kLowest
34% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$272,100±$16kHighest
26% below CT
Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
$1,204±$70Lowest
19% below CT
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,703Highest
29% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.2%±7.2
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%Highest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
8.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
10 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
7.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 #133 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District — Plainfield School District
High school in town Norwich Free Academy — Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
10.3Lowest
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.