Compare towns
Reading vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% 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 | Reading | Windsor Locks | Plainville | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
12,579Lowest |
17,551 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
— |
| 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.