Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sturbridge vs Windsor Locks vs Sterling
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).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($418k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sturbridge | Windsor Locks | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,443Lowest |
12,579 |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge 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% |
18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sterling 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. |
$418,400±$29kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,410Highest 106% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 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.