Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barre vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Barre | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
5,572Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Barre and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre 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+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Barre 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Quabbin | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.