Compare towns

Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Upton 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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWindsor LocksUptonCanterbury
People
Population
15,141Highest
12,579
8,189
5,124Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
48.4±4.5Highest
24% above U.S.
Canterbury and Upton 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%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Canterbury 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%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2
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.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$103,198±$6k
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$334,200±$12k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$948±$599
33% below U.S.
$924±$367Lowest
35% below U.S.
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.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,140
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±13
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Upton 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%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.7%±5.4
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 #109 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #125 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Windsor Locks School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Canterbury School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Windsor Locks High School Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
8.9Lowest
11.2Highest
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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.