Compare towns
Plainfield vs Beacon Falls vs Windsor Locks vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Beacon Falls | Windsor Locks | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
6,147 |
12,579 |
5,124Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 20% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Canterbury and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 16 | Windsor Locks School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Woodland Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.