Compare towns

Plainfield vs Rowley vs Upton vs Windsor Locks

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).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldRowleyUptonWindsor Locks
People
Population
15,141Highest
6,251Lowest
8,189
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
50±6.3Highest
29% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
Rowley and Upton 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%
19.3%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
21.6%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Rowley and Upton 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%
56.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
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.
$132,734±$32k
64% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Upton and Rowley 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.
$667,300±$52kHighest
101% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,603±$520Highest
13% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
Rowley 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.
$8,309
166% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±27.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Rowley 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%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
7% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #214 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Triton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Plainfield High School None in town Blackstone Valley Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
—
11.2Highest
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.