Compare towns
Plainfield vs Wilbraham vs Upton vs Windsor Locks
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).
Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Wilbraham | Upton | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
14,572 |
8,189Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wilbraham 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% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Upton 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% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest 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. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Wilbraham 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. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Windsor Locks 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
14.2Highest |
11.2 |
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.