Compare towns
Wakefield vs Plainville 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
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
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 | Wakefield | Plainville | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
17,551 |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 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 | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.4Highest |
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.