Compare towns
Plainfield vs Salem vs Windsor
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Salem | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
4,282Lowest |
29,468Highest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
43.7±1.9Highest 6% above CT |
| Windsor and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
20%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor and Salem 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Salem 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 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$5,351 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Windsor 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Salem School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Windsor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.