Compare towns
Plainfield vs Blackstone vs Putnam 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).
Blackstone has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Blackstone | Putnam | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,255Lowest |
9,292 |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Plainfield 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Blackstone and Windsor Locks 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. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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 |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Blackstone-Millville | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
13.6Highest |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.