Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chaplin vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
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).
Chaplin has the highest household income ($98k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Chaplin | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,070Lowest |
12,579 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 20% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Chaplin 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±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$4,524Highest 32% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.5Lowest |
8.9 |
9.5 |
| 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.