Compare towns
Plainfield vs Westminster vs Winchester
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).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Winchester has the most renters (34.2% 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 | Westminster | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
8,374Lowest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Westminster 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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. |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Winchester 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
13.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.