Compare towns

Plainville vs Thomaston 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 most renters (32.3% rent).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasurePlainvilleThomastonWindsor Locks
People
Population
17,551Highest
7,492Lowest
12,579
Median age
44.3±1.5Highest
8% above CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
Plainville and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Windsor Locks 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%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Plainville and Thomaston 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%
34%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
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
12% below CT
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
Thomaston and Plainville 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
$282,600±$23kHighest
23% below CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Windsor Locks and Plainville 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
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
22 min
17% below CT
Work from home
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #89 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Thomaston School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Plainville High School Thomaston High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
10.7
8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.