Compare towns
Plainfield vs Groton vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
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).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Groton | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
11,390 |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Groton 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Groton 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 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Groton 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Groton-Dunstable | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
13.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.