Compare towns
Plainfield vs Preston vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Preston | Windsor Locks | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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 CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$8k 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Preston 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 37% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.