Compare towns
Plainfield vs Royalston vs Windsor Locks vs Killingly
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).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% 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 | Royalston | Windsor Locks | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
1,460Lowest |
12,579 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Royalston 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Royalston and Killingly 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston and Killingly 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% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Royalston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Windsor Locks 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Athol-Royalston | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.



