Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs North Smithfield vs Windsor Locks
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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Killingly | North Smithfield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
12,708 |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and North Smithfield 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 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 |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | North Smitfield HS | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.1 |
12.1Highest |
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.