Compare towns
Plainfield vs Northampton 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).
Northampton has the most expensive homes ($430k median).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Northampton | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
30,962Highest |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northampton and Putnam 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% |
62.7%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% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Northampton 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. |
$429,700±$17kHighest 29% 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. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Northampton 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. |
$5,680Highest 82% 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% |
57.6%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northampton 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% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northampton and Windsor Locks 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Northampton High | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
14.7Highest |
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.