Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Windsor Locks vs Canterbury
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Reading | Windsor Locks | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
25,612Highest |
12,579 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 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. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Canterbury 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Reading | Windsor Locks School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Reading Memorial High | 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.