Compare towns
Plainfield vs North Smithfield vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn
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).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | North Smithfield | Windsor Locks | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,708 |
12,579 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and North Smithfield 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% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 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. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Brooklyn 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. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | North Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | North Smitfield HS | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
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.