Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ellington vs Windsor Locks vs Sterling
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).
Ellington has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Ellington | Windsor Locks | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
16,455Highest |
12,579 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Ellington 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%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Windsor Locks 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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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 |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Ellington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
— |
| Ellington 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 |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
31 min 18% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ellington School District | Windsor Locks School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Ellington High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
10.3Highest |
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.