Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dalton vs Windsor Locks vs Sterling
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).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Dalton | Windsor Locks | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
6,256 |
12,579 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Dalton 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 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. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% 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. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Dalton 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Central Berkshire | Windsor Locks School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Wahconah Regional High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
10.9Highest |
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.