Compare towns
Plainville vs Mansfield vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Windsor Locks has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
25,358Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
| Mansfield 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 28% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
22 minHighest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | E. O. Smith High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.