Compare towns
Princeton vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Sterling
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 people working from home (29.5%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Princeton | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Princeton 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 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±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Sterling 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Wachusett |
| 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.