Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
12,579 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Thompson 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.