Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hardwick vs Windsor Locks vs Canterbury
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).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Canterbury 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 | Hardwick | Windsor Locks | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,684Lowest |
12,579 |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Hardwick and Canterbury 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. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Canterbury 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Quabbin | Windsor Locks School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 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.