Compare towns
Sprague vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Sprague | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Sprague and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kHighest 25% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Sprague and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Highest 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
10.3Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.