Compare towns
Plainfield vs Crystal Lake vs Killingly vs Windsor Locks
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).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% 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 | Crystal Lake | Killingly | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
2,024Lowest |
17,867Highest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake 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% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake 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% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% 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 |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest 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% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Crystal Lake 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Killingly High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 11.1Highest |
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.