Compare towns
Pepperell vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Pepperell 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 | Pepperell | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell 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+ | 38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Windsor Locks 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.