Compare towns
Plainville vs Halifax vs Windsor Locks vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Plainville | Halifax | Windsor Locks | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
7,748Lowest |
12,579 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Halifax 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #120 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Halifax | Windsor Locks School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.