Compare towns
Princeton vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Princeton | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton 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+ | 59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 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 | $158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 113% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 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.