Compare towns
Plainfield vs Columbia vs Windsor Locks vs Killingly
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).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% 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 | Columbia | Windsor Locks | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
5,300Lowest |
12,579 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Columbia 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%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Killingly 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% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 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 |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
| 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 37% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Columbia School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.