Compare towns

Stoneham vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasureStonehamPlainfieldWindsor Locks
People
Population
23,355Highest
15,141
12,579Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
42.2±2.2Highest
8% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
Stoneham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham 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+
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
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
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham 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 #117 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Stoneham Plainfield School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Stoneham High Plainfield High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
10.3
8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.