Compare towns

Plainfield vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWakefieldWindsor LocksCanterbury
People
Population
15,141
27,793Highest
12,579
5,124Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
48.4±4.5Highest
24% above U.S.
Canterbury and Wakefield 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%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
15%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield 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%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%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%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2Lowest
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.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% 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.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% 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.
$1,958±$102Highest
39% 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.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,140
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±13
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Wakefield 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
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.
1956Lowest
24 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
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
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 #179 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #125 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District — Windsor Locks School District Canterbury 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
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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.