Compare towns
Plainfield vs Becket 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).
Becket has the most expensive homes ($361k 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 | Becket | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
1,962Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest 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% |
21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Becket 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±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. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Becket 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Central Berkshire | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 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.