Compare towns
Plainville vs Townsend vs Windsor Locks vs Derby
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Townsend | Windsor Locks | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
9,100Lowest |
12,579 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Derby 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs 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. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | North Middlesex | Windsor Locks School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | North Middlesex Regional | Windsor Locks High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
13.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.