Compare towns
Plympton vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Plympton | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,935Lowest |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plympton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest 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 | $126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% 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 | $6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plympton and Ashby 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plympton | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.