Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Petersham 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).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Petersham | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
1,185Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%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%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Petersham and Killingly 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. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% 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. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Petersham 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% 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% |
20%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% 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% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 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 min 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Petersham 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Petersham | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
— | 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.